Renault Fluence ZE (2012 - )  

Electric powered compact saloon, refined and comfortable, 100 mile range, battery can be leased for £70 a month.

Small saloons not very popular here.

Introduction

Renault solves the problem of price and depreciation of an electric car by selling the car minus the battery at around the same price as a diesel car (after the government £5,000 subsidy). Then leasing the battery at £70 per month which, with the cost of electricity, works out about the same as running a diesel car.

But, of course, the Fluence is VED free and will probably also be London Congestion tax free. 

Prices have been announced and the Fluence ZE costs £17,850 on-the-road after the £5,000 government subsidy has been deducted. There is of course, the battery leasing fee and charging costs, too. 

Even so, the on-the-road price means it will be the cheapest full-size electric car when it goes on sale in 2012. 

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Last updated 21 February 2012
More at the Renault website  

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