From Renaultution to futuREady: Renault announces 14-car 2030 EV strategy

Renault has announced its bold new EV strategy, which aims to introduce 14 new all-electric, software-defined cars to the European market by 2030, ensuring the French brand becomes the “benchmark European carmaker”.

Developed by current Renault CEO François Provost, the plan, dubbed futuREady, is effectively the successor to the Renaultution framework developed by former Renault boss Luca de Meo.

Under de Meo’s leadership, the Renaultution revitalised the then-struggling manufacturer.  This transformation saw Renault become one of Europe’s leading EV makers thanks to the launch of the multi-award-winning Renault 4, Renault 5 and the highly anticipated Twingo. 

I don’t speak Renault. What does futuREady mean?

Described by Provost as a “crucial step in the future of the Renault Group”, the Group will launch 36 models in the next four years across its three brands: Renault, Dacia, and Alpine.

Of the 36 upcoming cars, 14 of the 22 Europe-only cars will be fully electric, with Renault accounting for 12 of the launches. While Renault aims to electrify all European sales by 2030, plans for the sister brands differ slightly.

Dacia will expand its EV offering from one model to four, beginning with a Twingo sibling later this year. Meanwhile, Alpine is seeking to introduce its fully electric next-generation A110 sports car, which rides on the French brand’s new Alpine Performance Platform (APP).

It will also launch its A290 hot hatch and its Porsche Macan Electric rival, the A390 fastback, in new markets, and focus on high-end bespoke models, such as the £235,000 Alpine A110 R Ultime.

FutuREady software-defined vehicles

As Renault seeks to expand its electric vehicle range, the futuREady plan will also introduce a new EV platform called RGEV Medium 2.0.

RGEV Medium 2.0 can be used for all body styles from the B-segment R5 to D-segment MPVs, prompting suggestions that a new electric Espace could be part of Renault’s future. The RGEV Medium 2.0 platform has been developed with a focus on optimising the range-to-cost ratio and benefits from class-leading 800V architecture, paving the way for ultra-fast charging.

Its battery will use a cell-to-body design with 20% fewer parts than Renault’s current EV platform, and will be able to accept pouch, prismatic, and blade cells depending on the car. Renault promises that the RGEV Medium 2.0 underpinnings will offer up to 466 miles on a single charge.

The new platform will introduce Renault’s first software-defined vehicles (SDVs) as it seeks to reduce the number of parts used in its building process and introduce a new era of cars whose software can be updated over-the-air (OTA). OTA also halves the time required to update functions and eliminates the need for owners to take their vehicles to a service centre.

More efficient batteries and more powerful motors

The Renault Group is also developing two different types of battery as part of its futuREady plan. The first is a “high-energy-density” unit for high-powered, long-range models based on the 800V architecture from 2028 onwards. Meanwhile, a smaller, more “affordable” battery will be exclusive to small and standard-range models riding on 400V underpinnings such as the R5 and the Twingo.

A new third-generation rare-earth-free electric motor is also in the works, promising 93% efficiency on motorways and 25% more power, totalling up to 273bhp.

Benchmark Twingo

Renault is viewing its Twingo as the production benchmark for all EVs developed during the futuREady era. The Twingo was developed in under two years to keep pace with Renault’s Chinese rivals. As part of the futuREady strategy, Renault has set the goal for all new projects to be developed in this timeframe to reduce the number of parts in its vehicles by 30%.

In doing so, it will use new robots during production processes to halve factory downtime and employ operational data stored in what Renault describes as an ‘industrial metaverse’. AI is also key to the futuREady strategy. It will allow Renault to respond more quickly to any problems that may arise, improve product quality, and respond to potential supply chain disruptions. This is aimed at cutting vehicle development costs by up to 40% on each vehicle – an average of around £345.