Renault sets the bar for UK's most affordable electric car

Renault sets the bar for UK's most affordable electric car

The Renault Fluence ZE is set to make electric cars highly affordable when it launches next year, as the French carmaker has announced that prices will start at just £17,850 on the road.

This price includes the £5,000 government plug-in car grant, while battery leases will start at £75 per month, Renault added.

The Fluence is capable of going up to 115 miles between charges, while a whole host of premium features have been chucked in, such as climate control, built-in sat nav and automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.

Potential buyers can reserve their four-door saloon for just £20 ahead of its 2012 launch and Renault is expecting "an unprecedented surge" for this model, as it is far cheaper than all of the electric competition and many diesel alternatives.

As you might expect from an electric car, the power is modest at just 95 bhp, but in terms of affordability and low running costs, this model will be hard to beat.

Written by Craig Salter