SEMEURBAK

Something interesting about Renault ZOE charging system test in the cold conditions, test using the Renault can clip diagnostic tool.

An electric vehicle doesn’t react the same way to cold as an internal-combustion vehicle. Renault ZOE doesn’t use oil or gas, so engineers don’t have to monitor these items. But other Renault ZOE components required particular attention during cold weather testing.

First of all, had to examine how cold weather conditions affect the battery, notably in terms of:

Capacity: a very cold battery doesn’t fully charge. It can be compared to a fuel tank that contracts in the cold. The result is, of course, reduced range.

Power: a cold battery cannot provide all the power required by the motor, reflected in weaker acceleration.

Charge: an overly cold battery cannot be charged too fast, making for longer “quick” charging times. Cold, however, has no impact on standard charging, via a Wall-Box.

Also had to check the charging system using Renault can clip diagnostic tool:

The charging socket has to remain accessible (flap not blocked in freezing weather)

The cable has to be flexible enough to be rolled up at any time

The cable must not remain blocked in the socket.

Our first conclusions on Renault ZOE’s results: At -25°C, Renault ZOE is fully functional and drops in performance are almost unnoticeable. The battery performs very well in cold conditions from this point of view.

More noticeable in cold conditions is reduced range, but Renault ZOE remains one of the best mass-produced electric vehicles in this respect, thanks in particular to its reversible heat pump, which reduces heating consumption in cold weather and generates approximately 2kW of cooling or 3kW of heat with just 1kW of electricity.