TECH INSIDER | RENAULT E-TECH
22 // January 2020 // www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com
and regenerative braking to suit the driving conditions.
Vignon says the transmission weighs around 10kg (22lbs)
more than a dual-clutch unit, or 30kg (66lbs) more than a
six-speed manual.
“Our target was to have all the advantages of serial hybrid
and parallel hybrid driving,” he explains. “At full throttle you
will have the feel of a DCT. You will have a link between the
ICE and the speed of the vehicle, which is very important.
We also tried to have the advantage of the serial hybrid, in
terms of smoothness and not having gear-changes when
you are driving in the city. Compared to the benchmark we
will have a very high reactivity level because the e-motor
is connected directly to the wheels.”
Similar to the Zoe, the controls are designed for simplicity.
Driving modes are selected via a five-position cableoperated
shifter, including a ‘B’ mode which increases
regenerative braking. All E-Tech models will offer a
selectable EV setting, depending on battery state of charge,
and a Sport mode which combines gasoline and electric
power sources. Plug-in hybrids will enable drivers to
manually preserve electric range for later in the journey.
Drivetrain components are shared between hybrid and
plug-in versions, with performance and electric range
dictated by the lithium-ion battery pack located under the
boot floor. The battery in the Clio hybrid has a capacity of
1.2kWh, an output of 230 volts and is air-cooled by a vent
in the door jam. Renault claims this system will enable
80% of urban driving to be done only using battery power,
offering a 40% reduction in fuel consumption and WLTP
combined cycle CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km.
Plug-in versions will feature a larger 9.8kWh battery,
providing a 400-volt output and increasing system power
to 162ps, compared to 142ps for the hybrid. A Type 2 AC
charging port, located under a flap on the right-hand rear
wing of the car, provides a 50km (31-mile) WLTPderived
electric range for the Captur, targeting
CO2 emissions of 32g/km. A hybrid-specific
boot floor pressing removes the spare
wheel well to make space for the battery
pack, preserving the luggage capacity.
Vignon adds that there is flexibility
to utilize the system in a wider
range of products in future: “We
are launching this technology
in the B-segment because it is
our best-seller, but obviously it
is scalable to bigger cars with
larger e-motors. There is no
limitation,” he concludes.
The E-Tech system is based on a hybridized
dog gearbox using two motor-generators. The
larger of these is a permanent-magnet unit
shared with Nissan, which is packaged in the
transmission and provides power to the wheels
via two gears - one enables fully-electric
take-off, the other enables efficient assistance
of the combustion engine available at the
vehicle’s maximum speed. A second, smaller,
motor-generator is permanently connected to
the engine, serving as the starter motor and
maintaining battery charge, particularly while
driving in traffic with power-hungry on-board
systems running.
“We are able to use the e-motor power from
standstill up to the maximum speed of the
vehicle,” Vignon continues. “With two speeds
we are able to use the power of the e-motor,
which is important when you are in hybrid mode
because when you push the throttle you have
all the advantages of the e-motor torque. When
you are cruising on the highway you don’t need
the e-motor, so we are able to disconnect it and
optimize the fuel consumption.”
Driving conditions
Renault’s first hybrids will use a 1.6-liter,
naturally-aspirated gasoline engine, also
sourced from Nissan. This has its own four
gears, with ratios equivalent to third, fourth,
fifth and sixth in a conventional transmission
because the electric take-off negates the need
for first or second. Gears are synchronized
using the larger motor-generator and selected
by an actuator, though drivers won’t be able
to select them manually. The system will
automatically choose one of 15 configurations,
optimizing engine efficiency, performance
1
2
3
1. In 2018, Renault revealed
its K-ZE – an affordable,
fully-electric vehicle to
lead the company’s
charge into the EV market
2. Hybrid and plug-in
hybrid models will use
Renault’s hybrid E-Tech
engine with clutchless
transmission and high
power electric motor
3. Renault’s strong
electrifi cation strategy
will hybridize its
best-selling model, the
Clio, with the Mégane
and Captur soon to follow
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