Renault Launches EV Car-Sharing Venture in Spain

Renault SA is launching its Zity car-sharing service this month in Madrid with a fleet of 500 all-electric Renault Zoe city cars.

The French carmaker is partnering on the program with Ferrovial Services, a Spanish transportation logistics specialist. The Zity smartphone app is teamed with a Bluetooth link that Renault says improves connectivity in city centers and underground parking structures that tend to have limited reception.

The companies note that Madrid has the highest daily car-sharing usage in Europe due to the city’s size, population, traffic problems and air pollution issues. EVs can park for free in the city, and they are permitted in limited access zones that restrict or prohibit vehicles with a combustion engine.

The Zoe, which is Europe’s top-selling EV, has an estimated driving range of 400 km (250 miles) on the European driving cycle. Renault says this equates to a real-world range of 300 km (186 miles) in the summer and 200 km (124 miles) in the winter.

The car’s battery can be recharged to 80% of capacity in just over an hour. Renault says the Zoe’s patented Chameleon charger can accommodate single or three-phase connections with power levels as great as 3 kW.

The vehicle notifies its driver about charging stations located nearby and along the route to an entered destination. The system also suggests the most energy efficient routes and advises whether the vehicle will need to be recharged along the way.