The Renault 5 E-Tech electric was Britain’s most popular electric car in April, according to the latest registration data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. This comes at the same time as Renault UK reported a sharp rise in interest in its electric range, with EV searches on renault.co.uk up 42% since oil prices climbed at the end of February.
That interest is now turning into sales, too, as, in April, Renault’s electric models, including the Renault 5, Renault 4, Megane, and Scenic, made up more than 49% of the brand’s passenger car registrations.
To mark one year of Renault 5 deliveries, Renault is adding one-pedal driving as standard on techno+ trim and above. This was first seen on the Renault 4 E-Tech electric and adds a fourth level of regenerative braking, allowing the car to slow down and even stop using just the accelerator pedal.
Other updates include a new driver attention alert system, using an interior camera to detect fatigue or distraction, plus new ‘PoweR5’ rear wing decals for added personalisation. Customers also get connected services with up to 2GB of data per month for in-car apps.
“Interest in electric vehicles has undergone a seismic shift upwards following the spike in oil prices at the end of February. Compared to January and early February, EV enquiries on our website have grown by 42%. Already that is translating to sales, with our EVs accounting for just under 50% of our registrations in April, when most notably Renault 5 was Britain’s best-selling EV. With today’s announcement, it is an even more compelling proposition.
Adam Wood, Managing Director, Renault UK
In turbulent times, more and more people are realising the benefits of switching to electric. With a wider choice of more efficient, more desirable and more affordable electric cars than ever before, there’s never been a better time to make the switch.
Not only are EVs are fun to drive, they are also cheaper to fuel than petrol equivalents, by an average of £650 a year for most motorists at today’s prices. With Government grants also helping to lower upfront purchase costs, as well as a rapidly expanding charging network, EV ownership is more compelling than ever.”
The Renault 5 E-Tech electric is available in three trims and with two powertrains. It offers up to 252 miles of WLTP range, 15 – 80% charging in around 30 minutes, Google built-in through the OpenR Link system, and pricing from £21,495 on-the-road after the Electric Car Grant.
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