RENAULT – Their big contender in the electric vehicle market was on display. The Zoe, which is expected to launch in 2013, runs solely on electric power. It is 4.1m in length and has a range of around 100 miles.
TOYOTA – Has announced that the Prius+ will be available from mid 2012 in the UK. The Prius+ has 7 seats and is longer and lower than the 7 seat Verso. It is powered by a 1.8 litre petrol engine and is coupled to Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, but for the first time Toyota are using lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel metal hydride batteries to save weight. The target CO2 is sub-100g/km and the price is expected to be around £2,000 more than a Prius. The Prius+ should really have been called the Prius+2.
FORD – As part of the electric theme in the show, Ford showed their EV Focus. It is expected to go on sale in the UK next year, but will be in limited numbers.
