Living with… Our very first electric vehicle, the Renault Zoe

Glen Allen talks to EV Powered about his Renault Zoe and why he chose it as his very first electric vehicle.

Tell us about your EV

I have a 2021 ZE50 Iconic. We are new to electric vehicles and the Zoe has been around for around eight years so we thought it would be a good choice for ‘first timers’ and we were not wrong.

What do you like about the exterior of your car?

The Zoe looks smart with LED headlights and its C style running lights. I like how the charge point is at the front for easy access and its Celadon Blue colour is also very nice.

What about the inside?

The interior has been updated from the ZE40 with faux leather and recycled materials in the seats, with other soft touch materials. I just love the 10” customisable dash with the car information and the infotech screen is great with the integrated satnav, Android Auto and a phone charging mat. The car also now has B mode for better range which is helpful.

What do other people think of your car?

We’ve had a lot of interest from friends, family and neighbours. We have had a lot of people ask about how it works, how it drives and how charging works etc. The whole family loves the car and some are even considering opting for an electric vehicle for their next car.

What do you like most about it?

Just the joy of driving a pure electric vehicle. It’s cheaper to run, better for the environment and it’s fun to drive. It’s nice being the first EV driver in the close as well…

Is there anything you don’t like?

There are a couple of things. Firstly, the pedestrian horn or Zoe noise is a weird sound. It can be disabled and although it’s safer to keep it activated, the sound could definitely be improved.

Also, the rear fog light is too low on the car for pedestrians to see you wanting to reverse.

If you could go back to the time you bought it, would you go for something different?

Not at all. The Zoe fits our budget and it has a good commuting mileage and is a great-looking electric vehicle with history. Overall, it has been really reliable for us.