Renault sticking with battery swap tech for electric Zoe

Scheduled to hit the market in the second half of 2012, the four-door electric Renault Zoe will reportedly be one of the first mass-produced, battery-swap capable vehicles. Despite arguments against the battery swapping setup, Renault will apparently stick to its guns and equip the Zoe with this technology. Hey, it got to keep the name.

The striking four-door concept, which Renault claims is a 90-percent accurate representation of the production model, measures 161 inches long, 70.4 inches wide and 60.6 inches high. The Zoe's price tag, which is expected to be approximately 15,000 euros ($20,717 U.S. at the current exchange rate), will not include the cost of leasing the battery pack. However, at an estimated $100 per month, the lease rate for the battery seems rather reasonable.

Powered by a 80-horsepower (60 kW) electric motor that puts out a healthy 164 pound-feet of torque, the Zoe hits 60 miles per hour in eight seconds and can ramble on down the streets for up to 99 miles on a full charge. The Zoe's quick-charge feature means that ten minutes of plugged-in time nets 37 miles of additional range and its battery-swap capability will allow it to be back on the road and ready to go in under three minutes.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]