PARIS — Renault’s new CMF-EV structure will kind the idea for compact and small midsize electrical automobiles, and will even be tailored for future Alpine model high-performance vehicles, the group’s engineering chief Gilles Le Borgne stated.

The CMF-EV platform, developed in Japan with alliance accomplice Nissan at a reported price of 500 million euros, will debut by the top of subsequent 12 months in Europe with two compact EVs, the Nissan Ariya and Renault Megane eVision. 

The high-strength, hot-stamped metal platform is new, but in addition new for Renault is an electrical powertrain that features (on the Megane eVision) a 160 kilowatt electrical motor that delivers 217 hp. It may be recharged with 200 km in vary in 20 minutes at a 130 kW DC station.

Le Borgne stated in a web based spherical desk final month that the CMF-EV platform might accommodate automobiles from 4,000 mm to 4,700 mm lengthy, from the decrease finish of the compact vary as much as smaller midsize fashions. 

Requested whether or not sports-car model Alpine might base fashions on the platform, he stated that “the Alpine workforce is considering this platform, maybe with extra energy, however it’s too early to speak about that.”

Le Borgne, who joined Renault Group this 12 months after an extended profession at rival PSA Group, supplied various particulars concerning the CMF-EV platform:

• There are three battery capacities: 40 kWh, 60 kWh and 87 kWh
• With a 60 kWh and the Renault electrical drivetrain, vary is 450 km in combined driving, and 300 km at 120 kph in freeway driving
• LG Chem is supplying the battery cells. The chemistry, which Le Borgne described as state-of-the-art, consists of 10 p.c cobalt, on the low finish, though Tesla has introduced a plan to take away cobalt totally. Power density, at 270 watt-hours per kg, is greater than trade common of 200 wh/kg.

The figures for the CMF-EV platform are much like those reported for Volkswagen’s electric-only MEB structure, which has an vitality density of 265 wh/kg.

Le Borgne cautioned that whereas platforms such because the CMF-EV had been making electrical vehicles extra environment friendly, EVs typically wouldn’t obtain price parity with inner combustion vehicles for no less than a decade. He stated utilizing the platform throughout the alliance, in Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi fashions, would cut back these prices.

On the identical time, Le Borgne was optimistic that vary and storage developments would exceed expectations. “Each 18 months to 2 years, you see the ability density enhance due to chemistry enhancements,” he stated. “Throughout the identical ‘cocoon’ of the battery pack we’ll have the ability to enhance the ability inside, or have the identical energy however with decrease prices.”