Renault plans 16 new electric cars in Europe by 2030

Electrification as a central component of the new strategy

The French car manufacturer Renault has presented a new long-term corporate strategy with which the group aims to strengthen its position in the global automotive market. The program, named "futuREady", envisions the group becoming one of the most important European automotive suppliers internationally by 2030.

A central component of this strategy is the expansion of electromobility. In recent years, Renault has already achieved considerable sales successes with several electric small cars in Europe. Models such as the Renault 5 and the reinterpreted Renault 4 were recently among the best-selling electric vehicles in several European markets.

At the same time, the manufacturer is working on other compact electric cars. This includes the upcoming Renault Twingo Electric, which is being developed specifically for urban traffic. With this model, Renault aims to further expand its offering in the affordable segment.

New model offensive by the end of the decade

As part of its new strategy, the Renault Group plans an extensive product offensive. A total of 22 new vehicles are to be launched in Europe by the end of the decade. The high proportion of all-electric models is particularly noteworthy.

According to the company, 16 of the planned vehicles will be purely electric. In addition, the group brands Dacia and Alpine will play an important role in this development. Three of the upcoming electric cars will appear under the Dacia label, while Alpine is working on an electric version of the well-known sports car A110.

The group also plans a larger model range outside Europe. A total of 36 new vehicles are to be presented worldwide by the end of the decade. In addition to purely electric cars, these will also include hybrid vehicles, range-extender models (EREV), and still vehicles with classic internal combustion engines.

New 800-volt platform for upcoming electric cars

An important technical component of future models is a new vehicle architecture. Renault is currently developing an 800-volt platform, which will be introduced under the designation RGEV Medium 2.0.

This architecture is intended for vehicles of various size classes, from the compact segment to larger mid-range models. According to the manufacturer, vehicles based on this could achieve a range of up to 750 kilometers according to WLTP, depending on battery size and vehicle type.

Another goal of the platform is significantly reduced charging time. Renault is working to ensure that future vehicles can recharge a significant amount of energy within about ten minutes. Such charging times are considered an important step to make electric cars more suitable for long distances in everyday use.

The first vehicles on this new technical basis are expected to be compact electric cars, before larger models follow later.

Range extender technology as an additional option

In addition to purely electric vehicles, Renault is also focusing on so-called Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREV). In this drive form, an electric motor continues to drive the wheels, while a small internal combustion engine serves merely as a generator for power generation.

According to Renault, this technology is intended to enable particularly long overall ranges. In combination with the new platform, vehicles with a range extender could theoretically achieve an overall range of over 1,400 kilometers.

However, the manufacturer emphasizes that these vehicles should also continue to benefit from the fast charging capability of the 800-volt architecture. With this, Renault aims to offer a combination of long range and short charging times.

Different battery types for different price ranges

The future model range will also use different battery technologies. Renault plans two different approaches, depending on the vehicle segment and price level.

Higher-end models will receive batteries with high energy density, which enable particularly long ranges. For more affordable electric cars, a more cost-efficient cell chemistry is planned.

Even if the manufacturer has not published detailed technical data, industry observers assume that more expensive models could continue to rely on nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries (NMC). This technology is already used in high-performance variants.

For more affordable vehicles, lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) could be used. These are considered durable, safe, and relatively inexpensive, which is why they are increasingly being used in the entry-level segment.

New electric motor without rare earths

Another component of the strategy is the development of a new electric motor. Renault is currently working on the third generation of its EESM drive, which will completely do without rare earths.

According to the company, the new motor achieves an efficiency of about 93 percent at highway speeds. At the same time, it is expected to deliver 25 percent more power than the current generation and still be around 20 percent cheaper to manufacture.

The motor is developed and produced internally by Renault. With a power of up to 275 hp, it will be suitable for both front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Faster development cycles are intended to strengthen competitiveness

With the new strategy, Renault is also responding to increasing competition from international manufacturers, especially from China. many of these companies are known for bringing new vehicles to market much faster than traditional automotive groups.

To remain competitive, Renault wants to significantly accelerate its development processes. While it often took four years between the development of a new model and its market launch, this period is now to be shortened to about two years.

According to the company, all new projects within the Renault Group are already being planned according to this faster timetable.

Goal: stronger role in the global electric market

With the combination of new platforms, additional models, and more efficient production processes, Renault aims to expand its position in international competition. Electromobility plays a central role in this.

The success of the previous electric small cars shows that the manufacturer already has a solid base in the European market. With further models and new technology, Renault wants to use this advantage and at the same time react to new market requirements.

Whether this strategy will succeed will become clear in the coming years. However, it is certain that competition in the global market for electric vehicles will continue to intensify.

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