Electrified and all-electric cars may be commonplace today, but Renault has nonetheless found a way to stand out from the crowd by developing its own, proprietary drivetrain called ‘E-Tech’.
The first two cars to take advantage of it will be the Clio and the Captur, both of which were shown to us in electrified form last year. But while those were just early prototypes, the development is officially complete now, and the production should begin soon.
But let us throw another glance at the E-Tech system and how it works. Six years ago, Renault took the wraps off the Eolab Concept, a design study that had a clutchless gearbox with three shafts, but no speed synchronizers. The E-Tech sports a similar design: its 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine delivers the momentum to the three-shaft, clutch-free, sync-free manual gearbox. This engine design is said to be more fuel-efficient than the traditional designs. Its main drawback is that it cannot launch the car; this is what the electric motor will be used for, and the gas engine will only start once the car is already running.
Though the Clio and the Captur are technically related in many aspects, they will be receiving different drivetrains. The Clio E-Tech will pack 140 hp (100 kW) and a small 1.2-kWh battery. As a mild hybrid, it will not be able to charge from a wall socket. It will be able to accelerate to 75 km/h (46.6 mph) using its electric motor alone. The driving range remains unannounced.
In contrast, the Captur E-Tech packs a larger 400-volt, 9.8-kWh battery that you can replenish at will. The car sends 160 hp (120 kW) to the wheels and can go all-electric for up to 65 kilometers (40 miles). The top electric speed is limited at 135 km/h (84 mph).
Sales in Europe will start in summer. The Megane E-Tech should complement the hybrid range later, and by 2022, Renault expects as many as 12 hybrids and 8 pure EVs on its lineup.