For the most part business and industry, and the people employed by them, work in daylight hours. Much of the “living” people do is when the Sun is rising, setting, or gone over the horizon. The Sun does its work when people do and sets when people relax. More than concentrating efforts on building solar energy capacity for general consumption, why not build more solar capacity that’s aimed at powering industries whose work coincides with the hours that the Sun is in the sky?

Large photovoltaic arrays have been installed on office buildings, supermarkets, warehouses, terminal buildings and big box stores for years. Those installations have helped business owners reduce their electric demands from the grid while supplying them, at least in part, with clean electricity. Yet, outside of the solar cell and module industry there are not as many stories of manufacturing firms adding solar power to help power production processes.

Maybe solar powered manufacturing will be the next wave of new solar installations. If that happens Plastic Package, of Sacramento, California, will be one of the pioneers. The company is now using solar power to form virgin and recycled plastic into products. When complete its 208 kilowatt solar system will handle all of Plastic Package’s peak demand and assist its local power provider, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) in reducing its summer peak loads during the hottest part of the day.

For the system, Plastic Package chose cylindrical thin film solar panels from Solyndra. The cylindrical solar modules capture light from all angles as the Sun arcs across the sky. The modules also collect solar rays that bounce off the company’s white roof to complete a 360 degree solar collection surface. The cylindrical shape, with modules spaced apart, also aids in cooling the panels with roof top breezes for better efficiency. The Solyndra solar cylinders employ CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide) solar photovoltaic technology.

The Plastic Package system is the largest cylindrical thin film solar system west of New Jersey and was installed by Premier Power Renewable Energy. Premier Power is a provider of solar power systems for small to large commercial, agricultural, utility, municipality and government applications.

Going solar also adds an additional shade of greenness for Plastic Package, as does using recycled plastic.

“The plastics business is not normally thought of as a green business”, said Jim Kaye,Plastic Package Inc.’s Chairman, “but we are making major strides in that direction by using recycled soda bottles as well as bio-based materials in our products. Now that we’ve added solar, we want to let the community and our clients know, so they can feel comfortable that when they use our packaging, they are part of the sustainable process”.

Solar energy systems installed on the roofs of businesses that only operate 5 days a week could also be supplying power to grid on weekends and holidays. Those two days of power sold to the grid could help reduce system costs while being a new source of clean power to be consumed by relaxing employees at home.

Plastic Package specializes in the design and production of plastic containers for food products, including chocolate confections, agricultural and baked goods, as well as products for the medical, electronic and retail industries.

source: green Energy News

BUILD ELECTRIC CAR

For the moment pure, battery electric vehicles, are the darlings of advanced vehicle developers. Though they have terrific shortcomings – range and high cost – both related to batteries, vehicle makers are flocking to battery electrics.

Why?

One of the reasons battery electrics may be so popular with automakers large and small is the combination of simplicity and zero emissions. Compared with conventional vehicles electrics have fewer parts. Fewer parts mean easy development. Fewer parts may mean lower cost in the future if manufacturers can get battery costs down. Zero emissions, of course, are just that, zero, no need to worry about current and future emissions regulations.

But despite the simplicity of design and engineering, an electric vehicle is quite different from a conventional vehicle: car builders can’t just stuff batteries and electric motors into a conventional vehicle body/chassis and expect complete success with their design. The best electric vehicle has to be designed from scratch to be electric. Mostly the design has to revolve around the constraints of the battery pack. Those constraints hover around the pack’s weight and the limited energy it holds.

What seems to be evolving with some car developers is that the approach to electric vehicles should be a holistic one. The vehicle from the ground up to its end-of-life needs to be considered. This approach is nothing new to followers of electric vehicles. GM’s EV1 of the 1990’s was engineered from scratch an aerodynamic battery pack on wheels, and it did very well considering the batteries available at the time. (Had GM continued production of the EV1, it would be its second or third generation by now.)

This holistic approach to electric vehicles is emerging in announcements and new vehicle introductions by manufacturers.

--- REVA Electric Car company, of Bangalore, India, with the public introduction of its new NXR (NeXt Reva) and NXG NeXt Generation electric cars, has also announced that it has partnered with ZEM Energy Ltd to create mobility services and a “second life” program for the lithium ion batteries used in those cars. The mobility services would include battery leasing, public electricity charging points,telematics and insurance.

The second life aspect of the partnership is particularly interesting. At the end of their first life in vehicles, those expensive lithium ion batteries are expected to still hold a significant charge, just not enough to propel a car. Thus so, the batteries could find a “second life” as energy storage devices for stationary applications such as wind or solar farms.

This second life would give the batteries a guaranteed residual value, potentially cutting overall cost of ownership of not only REVA vehicles but vehicles from other manufacturers who take this approach.

REVA, by the way, is selling and test marketing its cars in 24 countries. In the U.S., REVA plans on manufacturing the NXR with a partner. The Syracuse, New York area is emerging as the primary contender for a multimillion dollar electric auto plant. Syracuse is within 750 miles of half the population of the U.S. and Canada

--- Smith Electric Vehicles of the U.K. has announced that it has joined a consortium of automotive suppliers who will work together to increase the range of electric vehicles. The cost-shared program with the U.K. government and others will include the optimization of drive train efficiency through a new high efficiency electric motor, a new two-speed transmission and a central vehicle controller. The consortium will also consider ways to reduce vehicle weight (a key factor in increasing range) as well as develop ways to reduce parasitic energy consumption from vehicle subsystems. Smith has new high voltage systems planned for air conditioning, power steering and heating that will extend a vehicle’s single charge range. With technologies in the program, Smith believes it can extend the range of one its electric vans from 100 miles to 120.

Smith will utilize the outcome of the program in its Smith Edison, a pure electric version of Ford’s Transit van.

The company, which is working with Ford to introduce an electrified version of its Transit Connect micro van to the U.S. market, has also introduced two new people carriers: the Smith Ampere people carrier that seats 8 (range 100 miles, top speed 70 mph) and a nine or 11 seat minibus dubbed the Speedster (range 80 - 130 miles, top speed 50 mph). The Ampere is Smith’s name for its electrified version of the Transit Connect.

The company has also developed an on-board fast charger that could extend the daily range of the Speedster to over 200 miles per day

--- Audi, which had been panning the idea of electric vehicles in favor of diesels, now is on board with its pure, battery electric e-tron, a high performance, 4-wheel drive electric sports car.

From the beginning e-tron was built with the holistic approach. To accommodate the 1036 lbs (470 kg) of battery and control electronics, Audi kept the body weight low utilizing aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced composite materials. Including the battery, the e-tron tips the scales at only 3500 lbs (1600 kg).

Further, with 230 kilowatts (313 hp) of electric drive on the tap, the e-tron is a very quick car, but Audi limits its top speed to a still-fast 124 mph to keep energy consumption from the battery pack within reason. Audi notes that the amount of energy required by the four electric motors increases disproportionately with speed. (Despite the vehicle’s slick aerodynamic shape, air molecules slamming against the body at high speed take a toll on energy consumption the faster the vehicle goes.)

Audi, as part of its whole vehicle approach, also takes charging scenarios into consideration. Via cable and plug with 230 volts and 16 amps from a European house circuit, the e-tron will recharge in 6 - 8 hours. Up that to 400 volts and 63 amps, only 2.5 hours are required from dead battery to full charge. (Generally speaking, voltages in this range seem to be necessary if battery electric vehicles are to recharge quickly.)

But higher voltages aren’t enough. Audi is thinking that wireless inductive recharging may be the best way to go. Drive over an inductive charging spot and the vehicle will recharge without a physical electrical connection. This will certainly add to consumer appeal.

Inductive charging gets us back to the holistic EV1. Though a cord was needed to recharge that car, there was no physical electrical connection. Recharging was through a safe inductive charging device which included a plastic paddle that fit in a slot in the nose of the car: no metal-to-metal contact of electrodes.

source :green energy news

Renault Fluence Zero Emissions Concept

Renault Fluence Zero Emissions Concept

Renault has launched a new site dedicated to promoting its upcoming model range of battery-powered cars. The site is actually about more than just the Fluence, Kangoo, Zoe and Twizy. It also offers explanations of how Renault hopes to make these cars mainstream and affordable. It appears from the information provided that Renault plans to offer all of its EVs sans battery. The energy storage system will all be leased separately with payments going to a chosen energy supplier. There will be three options for replenishing the charge.

Europeans can use their standard 220V / 10-16A outlet to charge in 6-8 hours. A standardized fast charge connector is currently being developed among multiple automakers and utilities which will facilitate 20-30 minute charges with a 400 V / 36 A, three phase source. Finally, Renault appears set to implement battery swap capabilities across its full lineup for 3-minute battery changes. Along with the main site there is a also a that so far contains a series of videos shot at the Frankfurt motor show debut of the ZEV lineup. You can check out one the videos after the jump. Thanks to Shadowcast for the tip!

source :Frankfurt-Motor Show

EV Powercharger 3000IP - eltekvalere.com

EV Powercharger 3000IP - eltekvalere.com

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen hedges battery bets, looks to form JV with Varta

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept

As Volkswagen looks to move forward with plans to build electric cars like the e-up! in the next several years, it apparently doesn't want to restrict itself to a single battery supply. VW has already previously announced plans to get lithium ion batteries from both Sanyo and Toshiba as well as collaborating with BYD in China. Now, the German giant wants to form a new joint venture with Varta Microbattery GmbH. VW and Varta will have to get approval from German regulators before the deal can proceed. However, VW seems keen to be able ensure that it has both an adequate supply of batteries as well as access to whoever comes up with the best technology and lowest cost.

Ford Taurus SEL

2010 Ford Taurus SEL stays big, goes upscale

2010 Ford Taurus SEL

In 1985, when few models really stood out from the midsize pack, Ford created one of the most influential vehicles of the late 20th century: the Taurus. Radically styled and intelligently packaged, the Taurus won the hearts and minds of millions of car buyers, and for over a decade, it was a dominant force in the retail car market. Eventually, competition from the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord proved too much for Ford to handle, and the Blue Oval hung its game-changing sedan out to dry. Product development dollars were funneled to trucks and SUVs, and the Zodiac's bull died a pauper's death in 2007 after an achingly long stint as a tattered fleet Queen.

When Alan Mulally took the helm of FoMoCo, the new CEO wondered why the recognizable – if tarnished – Taurus name had been abandoned. So a branding Band-Aid was affixed to the underperforming Five Hundred sedan and, unsurprisingly, consumers saw through the botched rebadging. The "new" Taurus was still the old Five Hundred; a dynamically challenged sedan whose biggest selling point was a really large trunk. In hindsight, the move may have been a way to revive the Taurus in the public's consciousness as Mulally and company went back to the drawing board to create a new world-class sedan capable of taking on the biggest names in the segment. The 2010 Ford Taurus is here... but does it have what it takes?
Before the rebadged Taurus arrived in 2008, the Blue Oval's bull was a midsize sedan. Not anymore. The 2010 model is larger... much larger. At 202.9 inches, the Taurus spans an additional five inches over the Toyota Avalon – or to put its gargantuan length into better perspective – nearly an inch longer than a Chevrolet Tahoe. That makes it a sedan even Baby Huey can love. But the 2010 Taurus doesn't just differentiate itself from past Taurus models in size, it's more upmarket in both look and feel.

Undoubtedly, one of the primary reasons that the last Taurus reclamation project fell flat was the donor Five Hundred's utterly uninteresting exterior design. The 2008 Taurus was so bland and unnoticeable it needed a chromed, Flava-Flav three bar grille to keep other motorists from running into it. For 2010, Ford has taken a different approach, making the two-ton sedan stand out with strong character lines on the hood and beltline that create a wide, muscular and luxurious exterior.

Up front, Ford has inset a set of modern, dynamic headlamps to accentuate the Taurus' sophisticated mug. The lower fascia makes this Blue Oval appear more aggressive, with a wide, trapezoidal shape reminiscent of the so-called "Kinetic" designs found on the European Mondeo and Focus. Our only issue is with the contrived three bar grille, which contrasts nicely with the lower fascia but falls short with its odd looking holes on the top and bottom slats. Out back, Ford has attempted to recapture some of the spark from its 2003 427 concept, so the Taurus's rump receives a set of squarish taillamps and a canted stance that gives the bull's butt a dynamic presence, with a minimalistic bumper that does its best to keep the already prodigious rear overhang in check.

While there's no question the Taurus is remarkably better looking than its predecessor, if Ford wants to recapture buyers, the interior would need to be special. In the past, Ford aimed for "class competitive" interiors, and in some cases, using the term "competitive" would be... generous. Thankfully, the days of strategically placed soft touch materials attempting to hide cheap dashboard bits and mismatched plastics are a thing of the past.

Seated inside our tester's substantial cabin, Ford's upmarket assault is front and center, with a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel (fitted to every 2010 model) and exceedingly comfortable leather thrones that wouldn't feel out of place in something costing tens of thousands more. Ford has opted for a dual cockpit approach for the all-new Taurus, with massive, symmetrical overhangs at each end and an impressive center stack sweeping back to strike a perfect balance between visual appeal and terrific ergonomics. HVAC and radio switchgear are well within reach and the controls are exceptionally easy to navigate. And while the front may be one of the best seats in the house, since the Taurus is a family sedan at heart, Ford paid special attention to the occupants in the rear. In smaller vehicles, the kiddies tend to kick the driver's seat. In the Taurus, there's more than enough legroom to accommodate your average chocolate-faced adolescent. When the time comes to haul the detritus of modern life, the new Taurus' 20 cubic-foot trunk is another big plus for the family man or woman, with ample space to fit luggage, golf clubs, groceries and some camera equipment – all at the same time.
If you get gratuitous with the options, the Taurus can easily crest $40,000 with the addition of adaptive cruise control, moonroof, navigation and all-wheel drive, but our $30,980 SEL is probably a good indication of what the average Taurus will be outfitted with, and although it didn't come equipped with Ford's excellent but pricey navigation system, SYNC was included. As we've testified before, Ford's SYNC voice-control system just works, with Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary inputs for your MP3 player or phone a few clicks and spoken words away from connection. New for 2010 is the addition of Bluetooth Audio, which allows one to connect a Bluetooth-enabled MP3 player like an iPhone or iPod Touch to the stereo without wires. We're continuously amazed at how comfortable and intuitive SYNC is, and over time, it's become a staple of the Ford Driving Experience.

After spending time inside the new Blue Oval flagship, its obvious that Ford was shooting for world class levels of equipment and materials. But while the Taurus's cabin is a huge leap forward for Ford-badged vehicles, all is not rosy. Since the interior of the Taurus is so massive, spaces needed to be broken up, and the tan, leather-clad innards of our tester joins faux wood accents to accomplish the task. We're not huge fans of fake trees, and the materials look real enough, but that doesn't mean we're partial to it. The wood – particularly with the beige interior – is just too dowdy and dull, especially when matched with such a dynamic, modern design inside and out. Further, we could have done without the oddly hidden cupholders north of the center arm rest. It's nice to have them out of view when not in use, but the lines are very visible and break up an otherwise attractive center stack.

However, none of these nits get in the way of the Taurus driving experience, as the massive sedan is a competent and coddling cruiser. At just under 4,100 pounds, the Taurus is fully 600 pound heavier than a Chevrolet Malibu, and nearly a foot longer. Despite this, the Taurus' agility is impressive for a vehicle occupying such a sizable land mass.
During a particularly healthy flogging on some twisty B-roads, the Taurus proved a relatively tight package, with limited body roll and weight-defying grip. But when pushed hard, the Taurus feels too tall, too long and too heavy. The upgraded independent multi-link suspension offers a compliant ride that doesn't come across as floaty, and while the steering is fairly precise and decently weighted, road feel is nonexistent. The new Taurus is no backroad bomber, but this hefty sedan counters with the ability to isolate occupants from the world around them. Noise levels are nicely muted, making it easy to have an "indoor" conversation with back seat occupants, and pot holes and rail road tracks are soaked up without much hassle; something we can't say for some of the Taurus' competition, let alone your average purpose-built sports sedan. Obviously, the enthusiast set isn't the fish Ford is looking to hook, so it's comfort uber alles, and at that, Ford has succeeded.

On the power front, the Taurus makes due with a carryover powertrain in the form of Ford's 3.5-liter V6. With 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque channeled through a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission, the Taurus is a lackadaisical cruiser, with just enough acceleration to keep you out of trouble, but hardly enough to get the blood pumping. Naturally, those looking for more pop can opt for the 365-hp EcoBoost SHO variant, but that starts at over $37,000. We suspect the average consumer will be content with the base powertrain, as most potential Taurus buyers probably don't tussle regularly with their inner Mario Andretti. With our right foot held largely in check, we achieved 22.9 mpg in mixed driving; a respectable number for a vehicle this size, and right at the center of its 18/28 EPA numbers.

With the new-for-2010 Taurus, you get the overwhelming sense that Ford has created a vehicle that knows exactly what it can and can't do. It delivers on style, comfort and features, while leaving sportiness to lighter, more dynamic performers like Dearborn's own Fusion. That can only help the Taurus compete against the likes of Toyota and Honda, and with customers placing more emphasis on value, the 2010 Taurus could give luxury stalwarts like the Cadillac DTS, Lexus ES, Acura RL and even the Lincoln MKS, something to worry about. But that can only happen if the new Taurus is bold enough and good enough for consumers to forgive Ford for its past sins with the Taurus. It's time to get over it – and after a week – we have.

article source by Chris Shunk

BMW working on 'green'

BMW working on 'green' M1 supercar

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

Will the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept that BMW debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month spawn a production eco-friendly supercar from the German automaker? According to Auto Express, the answer is yes, and the U.K.-based publication is projecting that the new green M1 will be ready for sale in 2012.

Naturally, the heart of this rumor-spec supercar is a hybrid powertrain similar to the one shown off in Frankfurt. A turbocharged three-cylinder diesel engine displacing 1.5 liters would be used in conjunction with a pair of electric motors providing all-wheel drive capabilities. The run to 60 mph would theoretically take less than five seconds and top speed would reportedly be capped at 155 mph.

Other unique bits that were introduced on the Vision Concept that could potentially make it into production include active aerodynamic elements that allow for an excellent .22 coefficient of drag. An unknown source tells AE that the car's hybrid powertrain, dual clutch gearbox and aluminum-intensive chassis are all "ready for the road."

If there's any truth to this rumor, the new eco-friendly M1 successor would be marketed as a rival to the Audi R8 and would potentially hit the market with a price well north of $100,000. We'll see.

source by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Renault Car

Frankfurt 2009: Renault's all-electric four-car attack includes Twizy, the quirkiest car of the IAA

Renault Zero Emission line-up - Click for high-res image gallery

If nothing else, Renault knows how to make a ca-razy-looking concept car. At the Frankfurt Motor Show today, the company took the wraps off of the Twizy Z.E. (Zero Emission) as part of the four-car line-up of all-electric vehicles at the expo. We saw the top-down teaser last week, but the actual design of the open-air cabin is nothing we could have predicted. The flat lines at the bottom of the wheel covers are particularly mindbending. The other cars in the line-up are (left to right) the Fluence Z.E., the Kangoo Z.E. and the Zoe Z.E.

The Twizy Z.E. looks like a single-seat vehicle, but Renault is calling it a 1+1, so there's got to be a baby seat or something in there. Renault even describes the 2.3 meter-long car as "barely larger than a scooter." Underhood, the Twizy uses a 20 hp, 15 kW motor to reach a top speed of 47 mph. The Zoe Z.E. supermini has a 70 kW motor and a 100-mile range. But lots of cars have that; the Zoe also has a " personalisable avatar for driving information, mood lighting and futuristic 'hydrate, detox and active scent' climate control." So, take that, every car that doesn't. The Fluence and Kangoo we've seen before. To top it all off, Renault is calling their rapid battery exchange stations "Quickdrop," and doesn't mention Better Place once in the initial press release. Hmmm. UPDATE: Actually, they do. It just escaped my notice. Apologies.

Find the press release after the jump. We expect to get more details and pictures of these vehicles at the day continues, but for now check out the design lines in the gallery – really worth it in high-res.


PRESS RELEASE:

RENAULT'S FOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CONCEPTS SHOCK FRANKFURT (SHORT VERSION)

Renault generated quite a buzz at the opening of this year's Frankfurt motor show, with the unveiling of an unprecedented four electric vehicle concepts, as well as releasing further details on the future infrastructure and technology behind them.

All Renault's concept cars on show in Germany preview its electric vehicle range which will be released from 2011 and cater for a wide variety of different customers and uses.

In summary, the Renault electric vehicle highlights for the show are:

• Twizy Z.E. Concept: pearlescent white ultra-compact and nimble 1+1 zero-emission city car, with 15kW motor (20hp) and footprint barely larger than a scooter (2.3m long, 1.13m wide and turning circle of 3m). It has a top speed of 47mph, with acceleration comparable to 125cc motorbike
• Zoe Z.E. Concept: compact, four-seat supermini for short daily journeys in urban areas. Scissor doors at the front and butterfly doors at the rear, with polyurethane gel for front and rear of car to underline its hi-tech feel and protect components against minor knocks in town. Features 70kW motor for 100 mile range, 21" alloy wheels and retractable rear spoiler for greater aerodynamic efficiency. Comes complete with personalisable avatar for driving information, mood lighting and futuristic 'hydrate, detox and active scent' climate control
• Fluence Z.E. Concept: electric version of all-new, elegant five-seat Fluence saloon with range of 100 miles for family driving, ahead of production for Israeli market with Project Better Place. Boasts low-rolling resistance Michelin tyres and Samsung Jet phones
• Kangoo Z.E. Concept: previews electric van for fleet and commercial use with 70kW electric motor, solar roof panels and even a heated steering wheel
• 'Quickdrop': three distinct vehicle charging methods, of which this is one. Rapid exchange stations replace batteries within three minutes

In line with the values championed by the Renault brand, its electric vehicles will offer customers a spacious interior, comfort, quality and safety. They will also feature a distinctive design signature.

Electric vehicles represent the clean-break solution which can put zero-emission mobility within everyone's reach. In line with the brand's Renault eco² environmental policy, Renault Z.E. electric vehicles are poised to be marketed on a large scale to take a decisive stand on the environment.

Renault begins marketing affordable production electric vehicles in 2011, with the Renault-Nissan Alliance targeting number one status mass-market zero-emission vehicle sales.

Twizy Z.E. Concept is an innovative response to the challenge of urban mobility. With its four-wheel chassis, it offers the driver and passenger, seated in tandem, an all-electric means of transport which produces no CO2 emissions. Compact, nimble and practical, it offers everything needed to cope with city traffic.

Wraparound bodywork creates a safe, reassuring cocoon which offers first-class protection for both driver and passenger. Power comes from a 15kW electric motor which develops 70Nm of torque, making Twizy Z.E. Concept versatile and easy to drive. Acceleration in urban and suburban traffic is comparable to that of a 125cc motorbike.

The second showcar, Zoe Z.E. Concept, is evidence that an all-electric zero-emission vehicle can also boast smart, appealing looks. Its special roof optimises the management of the climate control system to ensure extended range, while the ambience inside the cabin can be customised. Over and above its traditional role, the climate control system breaks new ground thanks to its 'hydrating', 'detox' and 'active scent' functions which combine to enhance travel. Zoe Z.E. Concept is a compact, versatile car for daily use, which represents a new form of transport thanks to the option of three battery-charging techniques.

The third all-new´concept at Frankfurt, Fluence Z.E. Concept, is a statement of Renault's intent to produce a range of zero-emission vehicles that meets the needs of all types of motorists. A genuine four-door family car with attractive styling, comfort and space, it proves that such features can go hand in hand with respect for the environment.

Fluence Z.E. Concept is an all-electric car with a range of 100 miles. The battery can be charged using one of three methods: a standard charge (between four and eight hours), a quick charge (20 minutes) or an immediate solution (three minutes) which takes the form of the exclusive 'Quickdrop' rapid battery exchange system. The saloon concept previews the forthcoming electric version of Fluence and represents a solution to zero-emission motoring in the world of tomorrow.

Kangoo Z.E. Concept is based on the Kangoo and brings zero-emission mobility to the professional road-user. Powered by a 70kW electric motor, delivering 226Nm of torque, in conjunction with a lithium-ion battery, its energy consumption is minimised thanks not only to the careful attention that has been paid to its overall design, but also to energy optimisation, without impacting the high standard of comfort. Kangoo Z.E. Concept's many information functions make it a particularly user-friendly, efficient and interactive vehicle.

In addition to the four concept cars on show, Renault also chose Frankfurt to unveil its exclusive 'Quickdrop' battery exchange system, as well as further details on the two other battery power solutions.

There will be three options to re-fuel Renault's zero-emission vehicles:

* Standard charge: takes between four and eight hours, via a charging socket situated on the outside of the vehicle.
* Quick charge: in 20 minutes, using the same socket at specific charging points.
* 'Quickdrop' system: three minutes at a rapid battery exchange station.

Range optimisation is the greatest challenge for electric vehicles. This is why Renault is working hard to make the process as simple and efficient as possible by planning for all types of charging needs and methods.
[Source: Renault]