Renault is currently taking all the plaudits for the achingly cool new electric 5 and 4 with their retro styling but the French car maker isn't taking its eye off the ball with its more conventional models - hence this update for the all-electric Megane E-Tech.
What's new about this Megane?
The big tech update for the Megane is the fitment of a new 11kW bi-directional charging system (with an optional upgrade to 22kW charging which is great if you regularly use kerbside charging), which allows you to use the Megane's battery (up to 60kWh, depending on the model) to power your other electrical devices, from e-scooters to a coffee machine (it allows for up to 220-volt power outputs, so you could potentially run your house in a powercut).
The bi-directional charging system means that, in the future, the Megane's battery can also be used as a power sink by the national grid, potentially drawing down juice from all the plugged-in electric cars which use Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology at peak use times, and then selling you back that power later on at the cheap overnight rate. In time, your EV could become a bit of an earner (once V2G is properly rolled out, of course, which it isn't in Ireland as yet).
Typical…
It is in France, though, and already Renault's finance and tech subsidiary - Mobilize - is offering an electricity contract supplied by its technology partner, The Mobility House, which exclusively supplies certified carbon-neutral energy and automatically controls bidirectional charging, enabling subscribers to monetise the energy it feedbacks into the grid. You will need both a smart home charging point and a smart electricity meter for all that to work.
Other charging updates for the Megane include plug-and-charge technology, which means you'll be able to set up an account through Mobilize, which will allow public charging stations to recognise your car when it's connected and automatically start charging both your car and your card without the need for you to fuss around with apps or RFID cards. The Mobilize Charge Pass already works at more than 800,000 public charging points in 25 European countries. Renault claims that “its flexible monthly subscription with no strings attached offers preferential rates at numerous fast-charging networks.”
Does it go any further, though?
Yes, there's also been a tiny improvement in the Megane's range, with the big-battery 60kWh version now capable, on the WLTP test, of 468km range, compared to 450km previously. Renault has also updated the Megane's braking system so that it now offers one-pedal driving thanks to improvements in the regenerative braking system. Renault notes that the setup “besides enabling the driver to speed up and slow down using the same pedal [also] reduces brake-pad wear, uses the harvested energy to extend range and makes the overall driving experience smoother, especially in cities.” Because it's basically a software change, it can potentially be retrofitted to all Meganes built since March 2024, and the system will be fitted as standard to the incoming new electric Renault 4 and added to the Renault 5 and Scenic lineups in the coming months.
Finally, there's a new range-topping specification for the Megane - Esprit Alpine, which brings the Megane into line with the rest of the current Renault lineup. Esprit Alpine trim includes as standard 'Matte Shadow Grey' exterior trim and front aero splitter, 'Ice Black' 20-inch alloy wheels, 'Ice Black' logos and badges, 'Gloss Black' window trims, and Esprit Alpine badges. Inside, there are new sportier seats with a black embossed fabric that's meant to emulate the feel of running shoe materials, slim red, white, and blue French flag badges, and contrast blue stitching for the dashboard.