Renault is planning to re-invent its Scenic model model to accommodate a combination of electric and hydrogen technology that is designed to deliver long distances with minimum hassle.
It's thirty years since Renault’s iconic Scenic made its appearance but there will be little or nothing to connect that minivan concept of yesteryear with the Scenic Vision of tomorrow. For a start, the Scenic concept vehicle is planned to run on a combination of hybrid and hydrogen technology and Renault claims a range of 800 kilometres will be possible. It will, the company claims, have a 75% smaller energy footprint than an electric car of today and will have technology capable of reducing accidents by some 70 % compared to today.
Renault also plans to use 70% recycled materials in the car, including steel, and to ensure that 95% of the car can be recycled
The Scenic Vision will have a new-generation motor, a smaller battery and a fuel cell running on green hydrogen and Renault says it can be introduced within a decade.
There is also a 15 kW fuel cell to recharge the car during long drives and thus extend its range. By 2030 "once the network of hydrogen stations is large enough, it will be possible to drive up to 800km, with the hydrogen tank capable of being "refilled in five minutes or less."
Renault says the car’s systems operation is simple and efficient.
"It can be driven as a conventional electric vehicle, without using the fuel cell, on daily trips. When there is a requirement to travel longer distances, a route planner calculates the power the fuel cell needs to supply to keep the battery charged for longer, so that there is no need to charge it on the way. The point of using the fuel cell on long journeys is that it’s quicker to top up the hydrogen tank than to charge the battery. This way,there is no need to charge the battery until the car reaches its destination."
When the weather is cold,the hydrogen range-extender also keeps the battery at the right temperate for optimal operation and extra range.
Renault Scenic Vision’s hybrid electric and hydrogen powertrain has all the advantages of electric motors: instant acceleration, less noise and no vibration. And no pollution, because the car discharges nothing but water when you use it."
A first all electric version of the Scenic Vision is expected within two years. If things go according to plan with the development of hydrogen supplies, the advanced version will come before the end of the decade.
