When Renault Decided to Bring a Legend Back to Life 2021. Renault headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt. Luca de Meo, Renault's new CEO, shows the board a presentation: "Electrification isn't just about technology – it's about emotions." On screen appears an image of the 1972 Renault 5 – the small car that sold 9 million units. "The French loved this 'five'. It was a cool city car. Affordable, colorful, practical," says de Meo. "Now we need to do the same with EVs." The problem? EVs in 2021 cost €35,000-45,000. That's twice as much as their combustion counterparts. Chinese BYD and MG are starting to offer cheaper models – Citroen e-C3 costs €25,000, but it's "just another city car". Renault needs something more – it needs an icon. And then something unexpected happened. Summary: AmpR Small platform and two batteries (40 kWh & 52 kWh) What is the best mobile charger for Renault 5 Eectric? Comparison with competition (Fiat 500e, Mini Cooper EV, Citroen e-C3) Battery degradation and winter range Car of the Year 2025 – And Not Without Reason January 13, 2025. Renault 5 E-Tech Electric becomes Car of the Year 2025 in Europe, scoring 353 points – beating Kia EV3 (291 pts) and Citroen C3/e-C3 (215 pts). The media writes: "Renault did something VW, Ford, and Fiat couldn't – they created an affordable EV with soul." But the real story doesn't start with the award. It starts with a problem Renault engineers had to solve: how to fit a 52 kWh battery in a car that's only 3.92 meters long? AmpR Small Platform: How Renault Learned to Make Small EVs VW created the MEB platform for large cars: ID.3, ID.4, ID.7. Tesla made a platform for premium sedans. And Renault? Renault needed a platform for B-segment city cars. The result: AmpR Small platform (formerly CMF-B EV). The same platform used for the Alpine A290, the sporty version of Renault 5. Platform specifications: Car length: 3.92 m (30 cm shorter than VW ID.3!) Wheelbase: 2.54 m Two battery options: 40 kWh and 52 kWh And here's where it gets interesting: Renault installed multi-link rear suspension, normally found in C-segment cars and above. Why? Because the AmpR Small platform has batteries under the floor, and multi-link suspension handles the extra weight better. The result? Renault 5 weighs 1350 kg (40 kWh version) – less than most competitors. Two Batteries, Two Worlds When Renault showed the Renault 5 in February 2024, it offered two battery variants: 1. Renault 5 with 40 kWh battery: for the city Capacity: 40 kWh (net) WLTP range: 300-310 km Motor: 120 HP, 225 Nm 0-100 km/h: 9.0 s AC charging (11 kW): about 4.5 hours (0-100%) DC charging: not standard (100 kW option at extra cost) Price: from €28,000 The 40 kWh version is a city EV. The 300 km range is enough for a week of city driving (50 km/day). Charge once a week overnight – done. The problem? No DC socket as standard. Renault sells the 40 kWh version without fast charging capability on trips, unless you pay extra. This means if you want to go on a 500 km vacation, you'll need to plan long stops and charge at AC stations (11 kW) – taking 4-5 hours. Who should choose 40 kWh? People driving <100 km/day Owners of a second car (for longer trips) Home charger owners (11 kW) 2. Renault 5 with 52 kWh battery: for longer trips Capacity: 52 kWh (net) WLTP range: 400-410 km Motor: 150 HP, 245 Nm 0-100 km/h: 8.0 s AC charging (11 kW): about 5 hours (0-100%) DC charging (100 kW): 30 minutes (15-80%) Price: from about €33,000 The 52 kWh version is a universal EV. The 410 km range is enough for: Daily driving without frequent charging Weekend trips up to 300 km (one-way without charging) Trips >500 km with one DC stop Key difference: fast DC charging at 100 kW. It's not a spectacular result (Tesla Model 3 charges at 250 kW, Kia EV3 at 128 kW), but 30 minutes to recharge from 15-80% is fast enough to take a coffee break and continue. Who should choose 52 kWh? People driving >100 km/day Owners of only one car (for all trips) Drivers planning longer journeys AC Charging: How to Charge Renault 5 at Home All Renault 5 versions have an 11 kW onboard charger (3-phase). That's good news: most B-segment EVs (Fiat 500e, Mini Cooper EV) only have 7.4 kW. AC charging times (11 kW): 40 kWh battery: about 4.5 hours (0-100%) 52 kWh battery: about 5 hours (0-100%) AC charging times (7.4 kW, single-phase installation): 40 kWh battery: about 6-7 hours (0-100%) 52 kWh battery: about 7-8 hours (0-100%) What does this mean practically? If you have a 3-phase 16A installation (CEE red socket) and a Q11 or P11 charger, you can charge at 11 kW. Renault 5 (52 kWh) charges from 0 to 100% in 5 hours. Practical scenario: You return from work at 6 PM with 30% battery (about 156 km range) You plug the car into Q11 At 11 PM you have 100% battery (about 410 km range) Renault 5 is built for home charging. If you have parking and socket access – this EV is ideal. Which Ampere Point Charger to Choose? Since Renault 5 accepts 11 kW AC, the sensible choice is: Q11 or P11: 11 kW mobile chargers ⭐ ✅ Full utilization of Renault 5's onboard charger (11 kW) ✅ Charge Renault 5 (52 kWh) in ~5 hours ✅ Both are portable – take them with you ⚠️ 11 kW charging Requires 3-phase 16A installation (CEE red socket) Difference Q11 vs P11: Q11: available with adapters, mobile app P11: lower price, charging from industrial socket If you can't decide: Choose Q11 with adapters for maximum flexibility.👉 Q11 – Portable Charger 11 kW 👉 P11 – Portable Charger 11 kW When you DON'T need Q11/P11? If you only have a single-phase installation and don't plan to install 3-phase, Q11 will work with an adapter to a standard 230V household socket. In this case, you can charge Renault 5 (P11 doesn't have this adapter): From household socket 2.3 kW (~20 hours) From reinforced socket 3.7 kW (~14 hours) But honestly? If you're buying an EV, it's worth investing in a 3-phase installation. Cost: €120-350, pays off in charging comfort and speed. DC Charging: How Renault 5 Performs on the Road The Renault 5 version with a 52 kWh battery charges at DC stations with power up to 100 kW. DC charging times (100 kW): 15% to 80%: about 30 minutes How does this look in practice? Testers from Antyweb drove Renault 5 on highway routes: Charging 15-80%: about 31 minutes (temperature 15°C, preheated battery) Maximum charging power: 88-107 kW (depends on battery temperature) The problem? Renault 5 has a 400 V architecture (not 800 V like Kia EV3 or Hyundai Ioniq 5). This means: Slower charging than 800 V competition Longer stops on trips >800 km Practical example: Warsaw to Gdansk (350 km): one 30-minute stop Warsaw to Zakopane (500 km): one 35-minute stop Warsaw to Berlin (1000 km): 5-6 stops of 30 minutes each Is this a problem? Depends on your needs: If you mostly drive in the city and vicinity (<300 km) – no problem If you do long trips >800 km weekly – consider other models (Kia EV3, Tesla Model 3) V2L and V2G: Features the Competition Didn't Think Of Renault 5 has two features that distinguish it from competitors: 1. V2L (Vehicle-to-Load): Powering devices from the car Renault 5 can power external devices: laptops, fridges, power tools. How it works: Connect a V2L adapter to Renault 5's charging socket You can connect any 230V device Maximum power: about 2.3 kW Practical applications: Picnic with electric cooler Remote work with laptop in the forest (no grid access) Powering construction tools 2. V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid): Selling power back to the grid Renault 5 can sell energy back to the power grid. This feature is currently only available in France and Germany (planned for UK in 2025). How it works: Charge the car at night (cheap tariff) During the day, return some energy to the grid (expensive tariff) Earn from the price difference Is it profitable? In France and Germany, yes. Renault 5 owners with V2G can earn €300-500 annually. In Poland, this feature doesn't work yet (lack of regulations). Battery Degradation: How Renault 5 Holds Up Over the Years Renault 5 is a new model (2024 debut), so we don't have long-term degradation tests yet. But we can look at Renault Zoe, Renault 5's predecessor on the electric platform. Data from Renault Zoe tests (2013-2023): Degradation after 100,000 km: about 8-12% Degradation after 5 years: about 10-15% Renault 5 uses newer NMC batteries (nickel-manganese-cobalt), which have better durability than older cells in the Zoe. We can expect: Degradation after 100,000 km: about 5-8% Degradation after 8 years: about 10-12% How to slow degradation? Charge to 80% daily (not 100%) Avoid fast DC charging >80% Park in shade in summer (avoid battery overheating) Charge slowly daily (11 kW better than 100 kW) Renault 5 in Winter: How Much Range Does It Lose? EVs lose range in winter, that's a fact. But Renault 5 has a heat pump in higher trim levels, which significantly reduces losses. Renault 5 (52 kWh) range in different conditions: City (summer, 20°C): 450-500 km real Mixed routes (summer, 20°C): 380-420 km Highway 120 km/h (summer): 320-360 km City (winter, -5°C, without heat pump): 280-320 km City (winter, -5°C, with heat pump): 350-380 km The heat pump is an option worth paying for. Winter range difference: 30-50 km more. Renault 5 vs Competition: How Does It Compare to Other Small EVs? Model Battery WLTP Range AC Charging DC Charging Price Renault 5 (52 kWh) 52 kWh 410 km 11 kW 100 kW about €33,000 Fiat 500e 42 kWh 320 km 11 kW 85 kW about €34,000 Mini Cooper EV 54 kWh 400 km 11 kW 95 kW about €40,000 Citroen e-C3 44 kWh 320 km 7.4 kW 100 kW about €25,000 Opel Corsa Electric 51 kWh 357 km 11 kW 100 kW about €32,000 Peugeot e-208 51 kWh 362 km 11 kW 100 kW about €33,000 Renault 5 wins in: ✅ Range (410 km – best in class) ✅ Design (retro styling + modernity) ✅ Features (V2L, V2G) ✅ Spaciousness (326 l trunk) Renault 5 loses in: ❌ DC charging speed (100 kW vs 150+ kW in 800V competition) ❌ Base price (only Citroen e-C3 is cheaper) Renault 5: Who Is This Car For? Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is an EV for cities and surroundings, perfect as: First family car: 410 km range + fast DC charging is enough for most trips Second car for those with longer trips: for city and surroundings, while combustion car for vacations Car for singles/couples: compact, practical, with character Renault 5 is NOT for: People driving >500 km weekly People without home charging access People expecting ultra-fast charging (like Tesla, Kia EV6) FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions How much does battery replacement cost? Renault doesn't provide official prices, but estimates: 40 kWh battery: about €9,000-11,500 52 kWh battery: about €11,500-14,000 Warranty: 8 years or 160,000 km (70% capacity). If battery drops below 70% during this period, Renault replaces it for free. Does Renault 5 have Android Auto / Apple CarPlay? No: Renault 5 has a built-in multimedia system with Google Automotive Services (Google Maps, voice assistant). It's a system that works without a phone, but some prefer classic Android Auto. Is it worth buying a used Renault 5? Not yet: Renault 5 is a new model (2024 debut). Used units will start appearing only in 2026-2027. But if you're looking for a young used car, check out VW ID.3 (from 2020) or Renault Zoe (from 2013). What are Renault 5 service costs? Renault 5 is an EV, service costs are lower than combustion cars: No oil changes No timing belt replacements Less frequent brake replacements (regeneration) Estimated costs: Annual inspection: €70-120 Brake fluid change (every 2 years): €45-70 Tires: standard costs Can you charge Renault 5 from solar panels? Yes! Renault 5 with an 11 kW charger can be charged from PV panels. If you have a 5-6 kW installation, you can charge the car for free during the day. Summary Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is one of the most interesting small EVs of 2025. It won the Car of the Year 2025 title for good reason – it combines retro design with modern technologies, offers solid 410 km range and an affordable price. ✅ Best charger choice: 🥇 Q11 or P11 (11 kW): for most users👉 Q11 – Portable Charger 11 kW👉 P11 – Portable Charger 11 kW⚠️ Only for 3-phase 16A installations ✅ Key advantages of Renault 5: Excellent range (410 km WLTP); 11 kW onboard charger; V2L and V2G features; Retro design with character; Car of the Year 2025 ⚠️ Remember: 40 kWh version without DC as standard DC charging only 100 kW (slower than 800V competition) Choose Q11/P11 if you have 3-phase Sources Autobaza.pl: Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, official Car of the Year 2025 Elektrowoz.pl: Renault 5 E-Tech Electric with 52 or 40 kWh battery Renault Polska: Renault 5 E-Tech electric (technical data) Wyborkierowcow.pl: Renault 5 E-Tech (2025), price list, versions, prices Antyweb.pl: City EV we've been waiting for. Renault 5 E-Tech test Auto Katalog: New Renault 5 E-Tech 2024, technical data Polisoteka Moto: Renault 5 E-Tech, technical data, reviews Buy a Charger for Renault 5 👉 Q11 – Portable Charger 11 kW 👉 P11 – Portable Charger 11 kW 🔗 See full Ampere Point offer Have questions? Contact us!📧 Email: hello@amperepoint.pl