Renault 5: Here’s Why You Should Rent It Instead of Buying
This page is translated from the original post "Renault 5 : voici pourquoi il faut la louer et non l’acheter" in French.
- 06/11/2024 12:50
Indications of a battery change, scheduled for 2026, suggest a significant increase in range for the Renault 5.
Renault has never hidden this: the first models of its R5, as well as R4, feature a French-made NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) battery, produced in Douai by the Chinese company Envision. Two capacities are offered depending on the finishes and motors: 40 and 52 kWh. At Alpine, the A290 only benefits from the larger capacity, with ranges of approximately 300 to 400 km for both brands.
This is sufficient for daily use and home-to-work commuting, but not for weekend getaways, especially for the family-oriented R4. Another issue is the current charging speed of these NMC batteries, limited to 80 kW for the smaller capacity and 100 kW for the larger. It is precisely on this psychological barrier that Renault aims to work.
A change of technology?
The tests of the new R5 are enthusiastic, but point out a single real problem: very limited highway range, around 230 km at best. But there is also the issue of price. Renault has reportedly been working for several months on the upcoming evolution of the R5 and R4, based on the principle of continuous improvement introduced by Tesla. The goal is to reach, symbolically, the 500 km mark.
To achieve this, the idea is to switch to a battery with a completely different and cheaper chemistry (which is not a bad thing), of the LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) type. The energy density would be slightly lower, but like with LPG, the plan is to increase the total capacity. Overall, this would ultimately improve the range.
The only hitch in the plan: the battery would then be produced by the Chinese company LG Chem, in Poland. Both Renault 5 and 4 would then lose the “Made in France” label so strongly used in marketing.
Will Envision be able to quickly adapt its current product to keep Renault among its clients? Otherwise, the Douai plant may already be rendered pointless…
Therefore, buying a Renault 5 that will only evolve in two years doesn’t make much sense. Early versions will lose value and become hard to sell. Meanwhile, Renault is motivated by the idea of leasing out its cars and then reconditioning them by upgrading to the latest technologies.
In the end, everyone will be happy. It’s up to you to negotiate your leasing terms accordingly.
We also suggestthese articles:
Also read
