The Renault Megane E-Tech Plug-In Hybrid Hatchback: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Renault Megane PHEV Hatchback

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Groupe Renault (Renault Group), is a leading player in the global automotive sector. Renault is now part of the global Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. The partnership makes these companies the 3rd largest automotive group in the world after Volkswagen and Toyota. Renault is headquartered in France.

Renault has been an early mover in the zero-emission electric driving sector and has established a leading position. The automotive manufacturer offers a number of well known battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), to include:

• All-electric TWIZY
• All-electric ZOE E-TECH
• All-electric ZOE Van E-TECH
• All-electric Kangoo E-TECH
• All-electric Master E-TECH
• Captur E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
• Megane E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid
• Megane Sport Tourer E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid

The Renault Megane family hatchback has been available since 1996. The concept version was unveiled in 2011. The hatchback is now in its fourth generation, which was unveiled in 2015. The small family car received a facelift in 2020, which also included the introduction of the Megane plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

The Renault Megane PHEV is not class-leading, but for those keen on a more affordable entry into electric driving, it is an option worth considering.

Though the Megane electric car EV battery size is limited to 9.8 kWh, the EV is able to deliver a fuel-free zero-tailpipe emission range up to 48 km (WLTP). Of course, do keep in mind that the real-world EV range will be lower than the claimed WLTP range, and assuming a 40 km electric range is more realistic. However, ample range to take advantage of the lower cost of driving an electric car.

Also, the best way to enjoy the smoother and silent pure electric mode, is to make sure that the EV battery is ‘topped-up’ on a regular basis. This also helps with the long-term health and maintenance of the EV battery. The EV has a 3.6 kW onboard charger and is not capable of DC charging. This is quite typical of PHEVs, however, many plug-in electric cars offer a 7.4 kW onboard charger and are capable of rapid charging. The EV can be fully charged in 3 hours.

Like all PHEVs, the pairing of an electric motor with the internal combustion engine (ICE), also helps reduce the tailpipe-emissions for the plug-in electric car. The claimed tailpipe-emissions is up to 28g CO2/km. The lower the emissions, the lower the local air pollution. A win-win for all!

The hybrid drivetrain also improves the overall efficiency of the electric vehicle (EV). Renault claims a fuel economy up to 1.2 l/100km. Of course, real-world fuel economy will be impacted by a number of factors, to include, the use of the e-mode i.e. the more the EV is driven on electric mode, the better the fuel economy.

The performance of the electric hatchback will not set the heart racing, but it does the job! The front-wheel drive Renault plug-in hybrid can achieve 0-100 km/h in 9.4 seconds, with a top speed of 204 km/h. The hybrid drivetrain delivers a maximum power of 160 HP (torque: 205 Nm), sufficient for city and motorway driving. Do keep in mind that the additional weight of the onboard EV battery does impact the overall performance of the vehicle (EV Kerb weight: 1,599 kg).

The EV does have a host of standard features and technology. However, the boot space has been impacted by the placement of the EV battery, nevertheless, the EV offers a cargo volume up to 250 L and an otherwise spacious interior.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The PHEV is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Family friendly and practical	Small EV battery (9.8 kWh) and limited range
Affordable hatchback PHEV	Cabin interior has room for improvement
Cheap to drive on electric mode	Sluggish infotainment system

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The Renault Megane PHEV Hatchback (credit: Renault)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body Type:	Hatchback
Engines:	Petrol-Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (1 Option)
Renault Megane PHEV (Rs N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 9.8 kWh
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger: 3.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3 hrs)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	28g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1445
Width (mm):	1814
Length (mm):	4359
Wheelbase (mm):	2670
Turning Circle (m):	11.2
Boot capacity (L):	250

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E-TECH Plug-In Hybrid 160 Auto
EV Battery Capacity:	9.8 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	48 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	N/A
Fuel Consumption (l/100km):	1.2
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger: 3.6 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3 hrs)
Top Speed:	204 km/h
0-100 km/h:	9.4 seconds
Drive:	Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Max Power (HP):	160
Torque (Nm):	205
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	1,599
Colours:	7
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Pure Electric Cars Available In India

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For most of us in India, recognising an electric car on our roads will be a challenge. Compared to the more matured EV markets, like China and Europe, the availability of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in India is still limited.

Having said that, the leading automotive manufacturers in India, like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, have demonstrated leadership in the development and introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, to include, the Tata Nexon EV and the Mahindra eVerito. Tata announced recently it had increased its sale of EVs in India by a whopping 353% in FY22 compared to FY21. Tata sold 19,106 EVs in FY22.

India currently has up to 20 pure electric cars on sale, ranging from Rs 11.99 to Rs 2.05 Crore. Leading international automotive brands like Audi AG, BMW AG, Hyundai Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Mercedes-Benz, MG Motors, Porsche AG & the Volvo Group have introduced plug-in pure electric cars in India.

We can expect many more international automotive companies to follow suit, to include, the famed EV manufacturer, Tesla Inc. In fact, Elon Musk has already made public his intentions to sell Tesla electric cars in India.

For the successful development of the electric driving market, the deployment of widespread EV charging infrastructure is a prerequisite, to include, charging at home and public EV charging stations. In India, electric car charging infrastructure is still at very nascent stages. The total number of public charge points in India are currently a mere 1,742. EV chargers installed at homes is also at a nascent stage.

Lastly, the introduction of cheaper electric cars with longer ranges is vital in building confidence with potential buyers to migrate to zero-tailpipe emission electric cars. EVs at a price point below Rs 20 Lakhs will be key in spurring growth in the Indian EV market. Below is a list of BEVs currently available in India.

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EV	Type Of EV	Price
Audi e-tron	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 1.00 Crore
Audi RS e-tron GT	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 2.05 Crore
Audi e-tron Sportback	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 1.19 Crore
Audi e-tron GT	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 1.8 Crore
BMW iX Electric SAV	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 1.16 Crore
Hyundai Kona Electric	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 23.79 Lakhs
Jaguar I-PACE	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 1.05 Crore
Mercedes-Benz EQC	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 1.06 Crore
MG ZS EV	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 21.49 Lakhs
Porsche Taycan	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs. 1.5 Crore
Porsche Cayenne E	Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)	Rs 1.58 Crore
Tata Tigor EV	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 11.99 Lakhs
Tata Nexon	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 14.24 Lakhs
Volvo XC90	Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)	Rs 95 Lakhs

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