The discreet return of the Renault Megane EV40 at 33,000 euros
This page is translated from the original post "Le discret retour de la Renault Megane EV40 à 33 000 euros" in French.
- 09/07/2023 18:31
Removed from the catalog at the end of 2022, the model combining a small battery and a small motor is more desirable than ever. Here’s why.
The world of electric vehicles is moving very quickly, even too quickly. What was, on paper, a great everyday electric car, quickly encountered internal issues. Because the Megane EV40 with 130 horsepower had a mission: to be very affordable to disrupt the market. At its launch in 2022, this model, then discounted by 7,000 euros (the old bonus dropping to 5,000 euros in 2023), was priced at less than €30,000. That was cheaper than a lower-category Zoe, which was almost 10 years old in design. It looked bad.
Another point quickly proved difficult to defend: the lack of fast charging with a limit of 7 kWh, requiring nearly 7 hours to fully recharge (21 hours on a standard 2.3 kW power outlet). For weekend getaways or vacations, this quickly became problematic, even handicapping. Consequently, Renault removed this model from the catalog at the end of last year.
A highly praised car for its dynamic qualities and build, the Renault Megane electric still struggles financially against the market leader, the Tesla Model 3, but not everyone can afford to spend €37,000 on a vehicle. The decision by the Losange to reintroduce the EV40 is therefore commendable. Slightly more expensive than before due to the reduced eco-bonus, the French car corrects its initial shortcoming: while it retains the ‘small’ onboard charger of 7 kWh, it can now connect to fast chargers with a peak recharge rate of up to 85 kWh, allowing it to fully recharge in… 2.5 hours. Or recover 150 km in about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
This isn’t spectacular, but it somewhat alleviates daily inconveniences and allows for “free” recharges at some merchants’ stations while shopping (Carrefour, Lidl, Casino, etc.). For a daily driver, the Megane will meet its commitments… but other manufacturers are much more aggressive commercially, such as MG with its MG4, at an attractive price.
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