Renault 5 Electric is ready to order (Update)

Renault opened the order books for the first two Renault 5 E-Tech electric versions in May. The Techno version costs €32,900, while the Iconic Cinq version costs €2,000 more. Both versions have the 52 kWh battery in the ‘Comfort Range’.

Some additional versions have now been added. However, you will still have to wait until early 2025 for the €25,000 base model Five with a smaller battery of 40 kWh (‘Urban Range’). The better-equipped Evolution version with the same battery can already be ordered for €27,900.

Both also have the 90 kW/120 hp electromotor instead of the 110 kW/150 hp one combined with the larger battery. The small battery can also be had in Techno and top-level Iconic trim for €29,900 and €31,900 respectively. This means that the price difference for the larger battery and the stronger motor is €3,000. A special and limited edition ‘Roland Garros’ version will also be avialable in 2025.

Since its presentation at the Geneva Motor Show at the end of February, all the data on the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric have been known, except for the prices, which the French carmaker has now revealed. The compact electric model is based on design elements of the historic R5 and will shake up the small electric car segment from now on.

Two batteries, three motor versions

In addition to the two battery sizes already mentioned, customers can choose between three different drive systems. The 52 kWh battery (net) will only be available at market launch with the most powerful version, 110 kW. Later, 90 and 70 kW electromotors will follow.

Both batteries contain prismatic NMC cells from Renault’s battery partner, AESC. According to Renault, the vehicles and the batteries (from 2025) will be manufactured in northern France.

The French company specifies a range of 410 or 300 kilometers, depending on the battery size. The version with the largest battery is already WLTP certified; the smaller version is still being approved. Renault talks about a 300 km ‘city range’ here, which should lead to a 250-270 km range that is WLTP-approved.

The manufacturer sets the top speed for the launch models at 150 kph and acceleration from 0 to 100 kph in less than eight seconds. All electric R5s have an 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard. DC charging is possible with up to 100 kW (80 kW for the smaller battery).

The time window for fast charging is around 30 minutes from 15 to 80% charge level. At AC stations, the charging process will take 4.5 or 3.5 hours, depending on the battery size.

V2G

The two higher motorizations should each have a bidirectional AC charger on board and – as announced by Renault in mid-2023 – be the company’s first vehicles capable of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication, i.e., feeding electricity back into the grid.

While the feature will be introduced in France and Spain, for example, vehicles in Germany and other countries are initially only capable of the already widespread V2L, which charges external devices with a maximum of 3.7 kW.

The Germans seem very upset as Renault does not explain why the V2G function will not initially be offered in Germany. The system is being implemented in Europe with technology partner The Mobility House.

Indeed, the vast number of grid operators in Germany causes the delay. There are more than 900 electricity grid operators in Germany. In other countries, the number of grid operators is in the single digits. And, of course, the grid has to be ready for V2G: in Belgium, this will be the case in… 2026. Renault doesn’t specify if vehicles bought now can be updated for V2G later.

Customers can choose from five colors: eye-catching green and yellow or the more subdued midnight blue, white, and black pearl. In addition, 104 accessories are available, like personalizing sets for the roof or the doors or a special basket to transport the breakfast ‘baguette’.

The two already available versions are equipped with a heat pump, an 11 kW AC charger, automatic air conditioning, 18-inch wheels, a reverse camera, adaptive speed control, a 10-inch digital driver’s display, and a 10.1-inch central monitor for the OpenR Link multimedia system with integrated Google. The latter includes a route planner specially designed for electric vehicles.