Battery power gives Renault a big boost
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DERIVED directly from the Renault 4F6 Fourgonnette petrol-engined van, the new 4F6A has won an award in an international competition organised by the Interministerial Group for Electric Vehicles.
This battery-powered Renault, which was demonstrated at the recent Transport Expo 1980 exhibition in Paris, was developed through TREGIE, a subsidiary of Renault. It was designed with electrical and postal services and municipal authorities in mind.
The lead /acid batteries are mounted transversely in a sliding box in the centre of the vehicle which, Renault claims, makes for a rapid changeover.
For town use, the electric Renault has a range of 60km (37 miles) making two stops per kilometre with a load of 230kg (4.5cwt). On the open road its range extends to about 80km (50 miles) with a 300kg (6cwt) load. On level ground, it has a maximum speed of 60km h (37mph).
Of similar body design and overall dimensions to the conventional petrol-powered van, the 4F6A weighs 1420kg (28cw1) compared with the petrol version's 1220kg (24cwt). The weight for the electric vehicle includes the batteries — 424kg (8.25cwt).
Although only a prototype, the electric Renault is in operation at present in some French cities.