Electric car batteries sold separately
Renault may sell its forthcoming range of electric cars without batteries in order to make them cheaper than their petrol counterparts.
The electric vehicles on the market today have to contend with the two stumbling blocks when competing with petrol and diesel-powered equivalents: they are expensive to buy because batteries are costly and they cannot easily refuel on the open road.
Renault plans to address these problems by leasing rather than selling power packs and allowing drivers of its electric cars to drop in on charging stations, where depleted batteries could be charged quickly or swapped for a full one.
Electric cars: What’s good, what’s not so good
| Electric cars: What’s good | what’s not so good |
|---|---|
 In environmental terms, probably the best car option around especially if the electricity it uses comes from renewable sources |
 Generally low top speed (although electric cars can have surprisingly quick acceleration, so they can keep up with city traffic without any difficulty) |
| Zero emissions from the car itself makes it a saint in the city |
Limited range (until now) and lengthy recharging times means they are not suitable for long journeys |
| Extremely quiet |
The batteries are expensive and cause pollution problems when the time comes to dispose of them |
|
Exempt from the London Congestion Charge, no road tax and only pennies per mile to run |
Expensive to buy |
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Electric cars may be cheaper to own in the long run, but the cost of the batteries currently puts them out of the reach of many drivers.”
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What is the ETA?
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