Renault has unveiled the electric version of its popular small hatchback the Kwid. The Renault City K-Ze as the Kwid Electric is called in China was unveiled at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show.
The car’s body is identical to the Kwid petrol variant that is currently on sale in India. It’s based on the same CMF-A platform and has been given some cosmetic changes to differentiate it. The Renault Kwid Electric or Renault K-Ze will first be launched in China and is likely to come to India and Europe too in 2020-2021.
The Renault K-Ze gets a few structural changes to accommodate the battery pack and an electric motor under the bonnet in place of the petrol unit. As is the case with most petrol-to-electric conversions, there appears to be a lot of unused space.
The Renault K-Ze will be powered by a 33 Kw electric motor that puts out 44 bhp of power and 120 Nm of peak torque. It reportedly has a range of 240 Km on a single charge.
The fast-charger can charge the K-Ze to 80 percent in less than an hour, while the regular charger takes four hours for a full charge.
It has a single dial in the centre console that shifts between drive, neutral and reverse. The instrument cluster has an LCD screen in the centre, surrounded by two digital gauges. The AC panel and infotainment system are similar to the petrol Renault Kwid.
Cosmetically, the Renault Kwid Electric or Renault City K-Ze has a revised front with the charging points just behind the logo on the grille. It comes with lower-set headlamps and LED daytime running lights. The rear only sees minor changes to the bumper.
It has a spacious 300 litre boot, since the batteries are under the floor. That has, however, lowered the ground clearance a little.
The Renault Kwid Electric or City K-Ze as it’s known in China may come to India in early 2021. It will also be launched in Europe.
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