Renault: The Megane E-Tech 100% electric as a home on wheels 🎥
COMFORT With the new platform, the engineers at the Direction de l'Ingénierie Renault have designed a basic architecture that allows the drive components to be kept compact and the interior space to be used efficiently. The electric motor of the Megane E-Tech 100% electric is environmentally friendly and does not use any rare earths.
Marc Yvetot, an expert in platform architecture at Renault, explains how the engineers' creativity contributed to the coziness and clear design of the vehicle cockpit. A key factor was the relocation of the heating and air conditioning system under the hood. This offers several advantages. It creates more free space - almost seven liters - in the middle area for storage compartments and an induction charger for smartphones. A simple, uncluttered dashboard and the integration of large displays ensure a practical and comfortable interior design that benefits the well-being of the driver and passengers.
Marc Yvetot: "We decided to move some of the heating and air conditioning components to the area traditionally reserved for the engine and its peripheral parts. This was possible due to the specific architecture of the electric motor, which is much more compact than a combustion engine."
New fastening system creates space
The Renault engineers' idea of relocating the space-consuming heating and air conditioning system under the hood was made possible by a new mounting system that provides optimum mechanical support, while at the same time absorbing the vibrations that occur on the partition wall between the engine compartment and the interior.
This fastening system uses bolts and nuts to connect two reinforcements, which are attached to the partition wall, to four fastening straps, which are firmly connected to the heating and air conditioning system. This solution in turn gave the designers the opportunity to give free rein to their creativity when designing the dashboard. This new way of attaching the heating and air conditioning system in the engine compartment is recorded in patent PJ17 5256. The inventors are Stevens Luron and Max Lamarre.
Motor works without rare earths
Renault developed and patented a new magnet-free, electrically excited synchronous motor for the new Megane E-Tech 100% electric. This technology makes the motor more efficient while reducing the impact on the environment. The magnets have been replaced by copper coils in which the arrangement and position of the individual wires have been precisely defined to withstand the centrifugal force of the rotor. In addition to the environmental benefits, the rotor winding technology means that the Megane E-Tech electric motor operates over a wide torque and speed range in the optimum power field.
A range of 470 kilometers on a single charge
The new platform of the Megane E-Tech 100% electric features a very flat 60 kWh battery and a compact 160 kW electric motor. This allows the car to travel up to 470 kilometers on a single charge. The aerodynamically optimized body design, the comparatively low vehicle weight of 1740 kilograms and the thermal management of the battery also make the long range possible.
The all-electric Megane E-Tech 100% electric, which rolls on 18- or 20-inch wheels, also impresses with its sporty driving performance. From a standstill, it reaches 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and has a top speed of 160 km/h.
The Megane E-Tech 100% electric is available in the Equilibre, Techno and Iconic equipment lines and thus fulfills almost all wishes and needs. Many comfort and safety features as well as driver assistance systems are already included as standard in the basic equipment. Prices start at 36,000 Swiss francs (Equilibre), 39,000 Swiss francs (Techno) and 42,000 Swiss francs (Iconic).
Read on Tuesday, December 19, 2023: How to optimize range in cold weather.
