Renault Zoe

THE ZOE’S Game-changing status was practically assured straight out of the box. Affordability is one of two key criteria for edging buyers closer to the critical mass of an electric car tipping point, and Renault’s supermini looked like an ideal option for those hoping to try zero-emissions motoring on a modest budget. The approach was duly rewarded: the Zoe was Europe’s bestselling plug-in electric car last year.

At the tail end of 2016, its maker addressed the other all-important criterion. By doubling the storage capacity of its lithium ion battery, Renault could lay official claim to a 250-mile range – exceeding the quoted range of Tesla’s forthcoming entry-level Model 3. Even the lower real-world forecast of 186 miles was close to double the distance its predecessor offered. Better still, it came with no physical penalty. The Zoe’s battery is no larger or heavier than before; it is the energy density of individual cells that accounts for the drastically enhanced 41kwh capacity.

Consequently, the car is no weightier than before – just more convenient and usable. And those attributes are at the core of making it easier for buyers to choose all-electric in the face of a combustion engine or even a petrol-electric hybrid. By advancing its functionality well beyond two hours of everyday driving, the Zoe has gently forwarded the cause of zero-emissions motoring – arguably more so than the growing multitude of rivals costing three times as much.