On the heels of Tesla’s successful IPO, Renault has released a bit of data about its new DeZir electric vehicle. A luxury concept car, this electric powerhouse can be shown for the first time at September’s Paris Auto Show. The DeZir is beautiful, but it may not be able to compete with Tesla’s small yet established customer base.
Some details of the Renault DeZir
The Renault DeZir isn’t on the road yet. The 100-mile range of the vehicle comes from an engine with a Lithium Ion battery. A standard household outlet will charge the battery in just eight hours, and a quick-charge outlet will charge it to 80 percent in 20 minutes. It uses a bench seat and cockpit style design. Its zero-to-100 time is about five seconds.
Comparing the new DeZir to the Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster is presently the only all-electric sports roadster on the road. The Tesla has the longest range of a production electric automobile. Unlike the DeZir, the roadster needs a specialty charging plug, though Tesla assures customers they will be making the switch to a standard plug. Both autos are intended as two-door coupes and are targeting a very well-heeled market.
A DeZir- soon on the market
The Renault DeZir is a concept vehicle. Most concept cars, sadly, will never make it to market. Five years ago, the Chevy Volt was introduced as a concept car. Many “concept cars” are never put into mass-market production. Even if the DeZir goes into mass production, it probably will be showing up at about the exact same time as more affordably priced and long-range electric autos are available to the mass market. This means the Renault DeZir can have to carve out a niche of customers very carefully if the DeZir is to be successful.
