Description
Renault Embleme – Ampere Tech for Decarbonization
PRESS KIT: RENAULT EMBLÈME: A DEMONSTRATOR OF AMPERE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DECARBONIZATION
INTRODUCTION
Renault Group is transforming for low-carbon mobility, aiming for carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040 and worldwide by 2050. Its "pure player" Ampere leads this effort, driving innovation through eco-design, resource choice, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life processes. The Renault Emblème demo car, unveiled at the 2024 Mondial de l'Auto, embodies a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions over its life cycle. With 50% recycled materials, a 70% component carbon footprint cut, and a dual-energy electric-hydrogen powertrain, Emblème sets a new standard in sustainable, spacious, high-tech family vehicles.
A METHODOLOGY BASED ON THE VEHICLE LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) quantifies a vehicle’s environmental impact from raw material extraction to recycling, covering assembly, transport, usage, and maintenance. Renault Group uses LCA to assess CO2 emissions per vehicle over a 200,000 km lifespan. For instance, the Megane E-Tech electric emits 24 tonnes of CO2 eq. across its life cycle, about half that of a petrol Captur (50 tonnes). The Emblème project aims to cut this further, targeting only 5 tonnes of CO2 eq., a nearly 90% reduction.
CONSERVING RESOURCES AND SELECTING RAW MATERIALS
In 2020, raw material extraction and parts manufacturing made up 15% of Renault Group's ICE vehicle carbon footprint. Reducing suppliers' environmental impact is now a key strategy for Renault Group’s decarbonization goals. Ampere’s Renault Emblème exemplifies this approach, representing a collaborative effort to advance the automotive ecosystem and minimize resource use.
A 70% REDUCTION IN THE CARBON FOOTPRINT
In the automotive sector, six materials—steel, aluminum, polymers, electronics, glass, and tires—make up 90% of the purchasing carbon footprint. Renault Emblème’s eco-design involved key partners, such as ArcelorMittal and Michelin, optimizing material choice from project inception. As a result, Emblème achieves a 70% reduction in material carbon footprint, with over 50% recycled content and 90% recyclability. Exterior materials like steel, aluminum, and plastics are fully recyclable at end-of-life.
A LOW-CARBON BATTERY
Ampere is advancing low-carbon, sustainable battery development with strategic changes across the value chain. Key initiatives for Renault Emblème’s battery include:
- Nickel: A partnership with Terrafame secures low-carbon nickel sulfate with full supply chain traceability, providing up to 15 GWh annually.
- Lithium: A 5-year partnership with Vulcan Energy’s Zero Carbon Lithium™ Project ensures 6,000–17,000 tonnes of lithium per year.
- Recycling: Closed-loop recycling of cobalt, nickel, and lithium will enable 80% recycled content in new batteries by 2030.
INNOVATION IN MATERIALS
Renault Emblème’s interior prioritizes sustainability with simplified, recyclable materials. Building on Scenic Vision’s innovation, Emblème uses 100% recycled polyester for seats, upholstery, and thermoformed floor coverings. Colors are achieved through “additive synthesis” with four color threads, reducing CO₂ emissions and creating 62 shades without dyes. The seat foam is biocircular, derived from biological waste. The dashboard is upholstered in CO₂-storing Normandy linen, which offers aesthetic strength without a shell, and is crafted with TFT technology, ensuring zero waste through precision cuts.
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY, RELIABLE, HIGH-TECH VOITURE À VIVRE
The ambition of the Renault Emblème project was to maximise decarbonisation with a car that is family-friendly, attractive, comfortable, high-tech and versatile. More than a concept car, it is a working Ampere technology- powered demo-car unveiled and that is a pleasure to look at, to sit in and to drive. A real invitation to take to the road!
ELEGANT, FLOWING LINES
Renault Emblème features a sleek, curved profile, combining elements of an estate and a coupé. With a 2.90-meter wheelbase and a height of 1.52 meters, it showcases a flowing roofline and a 4.80-meter length, ideal for family travel. The vehicle’s green bodywork exhibits a dichroic effect, changing color based on the viewing angle. Emblème reflects Renault's ambition to innovate in the C segment and beyond, with a light signature inspired by the Renault logo, designed to be both high-tech and recognizable.
A HIGH-TECH CABIN
Renault Emblème embodies Ampere’s vision for the future, where onboard technology is practical, tangible, and user-friendly. The cockpit features a striking 1.2-meter openR panorama screen, delivering an 8K multimedia experience for both driver and passenger, allowing access to shared and dedicated information. Most functions are intuitively operated via a secondary touchscreen on the center console and a rotary knob, with applications presented as tiles for easy navigation.
Emblème’s technology emphasizes a “Shy Tech” philosophy, fostering a relaxed atmosphere. The central screen has a matte finish, while buttons and touch-sensitive controls are seamlessly integrated into the textile surfaces. Energy efficiency is prioritized, with screens featuring automatic LED deactivation in dark areas and local dimming.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SAFE, EFFICIENT DRIVING
Renault Emblème’s operating systems leverage artificial intelligence to enhance driver convenience, energy efficiency, and safety. Key features include:
- Driving Aids: An advanced human/machine interface helps drivers adopt energy-efficient and safe driving styles, with “eco score” and “safety score” apps providing journey feedback and improvement tips.
- Real-Time Adaptation: The system enables drivers to adjust their driving reflexes based on real-time data to enhance scores.
- Smartphone Integration: Similar to sports apps, drivers can analyze journeys, compare performances, and earn rewards through their smartphones.
- Active Driver Assist: This system uses geolocation and mapping data to predictively adjust driving according to road conditions, improving efficiency and energy consumption.
- Optimized Journey Planner: Continuously updated to factor in charging point availability, vehicle consumption, and weather, it suggests routes that minimize energy use and travel time.
DRIVING: HYPER-VERSATILITY OF USES
Renault Emblème features a dual-energy powertrain that combines a 160 kW electric motor with a hydrogen fuel cell, delivering an efficient driving experience. It includes a 40 kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery under the floor pan and a 30 kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) fueled by low-carbon hydrogen from a 2.8 kg tank. Built on the AmpR Medium platform, the rear-wheel drive design optimizes weight distribution and maintains a low center of gravity. For everyday use, the vehicle operates like a conventional electric car, utilizing regenerative braking and solar energy, while for longer trips, the hydrogen fuel cell supports travel up to 1,000 km, requiring only two quick refueling stops. The multimedia system efficiently calculates energy usage, making it a compelling alternative to traditional electric vehicles, combining the benefits of electric driving with hydrogen technology.
ONBOARD AMBIENCE: AN INVITATION TO TAKE THE WHEEL
The Renault Emblème exemplifies a holistic design centered on efficiency, boasting a sporty yet elegant exterior with advanced graphic lines. Its focus on aerodynamics and weight optimization enhances electric vehicle performance while preserving interior space.
Renault and Ampère engineers utilized cutting-edge digital twin technology from the BWT Alpine F1 Team to refine the drag coefficient via digital wind tunnel testing, achieving exceptional aerodynamic efficiency before creating physical prototypes.
Key features include cameras replacing rearview mirrors, hidden windscreen wipers, and integrated e-latch door handles. The active aerodynamic system features fins that adjust for cooling and a pivoting active diffuser that manages airflow to minimize drag. The vehicle's 22-inch narrow tires also contribute to improved efficiency with low rolling resistance.
WEIGHT AND WHY IT MATTERS
A vehicle’s weight significantly affects its CO2 equivalent emissions at various stages: during material extraction, production, transportation, usage (influencing energy consumption), and recycling. To minimize the Renault Emblème's weight to just 1,800 kilograms, designers meticulously eliminated excess weight:
- The hydrogen tank is constructed from carbon fiber.
- The dual-energy electric powertrain, which includes a battery and fuel cell, provides an extended range with a battery nearly half the weight of comparable all-electric family car batteries.
- The doors are 15 kilograms lighter than the frameless models typically found in shooting brakes.
For reference, the 40 kWh battery in the Emblème weighs 291 kilograms, while an 87 kWh battery typically weighs 513 kilograms.
AN ALL-ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN COMBINING VERSATILITY AND LOW-CARBON OPERATION
Electric cars are currently the best option for low-carbon mobility, with advances in battery energy density. However, they still struggle to compete with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in terms of range and journey time. To address this, Renault Group is exploring hydrogen as a power source for electric motors.
Hydrogen is a clean energy source that generates electricity through combustion or fuel cells, producing only water as a byproduct. It can be stored and dispensed quickly, with current hydrogen pumps offering one kilogram per minute—a rate set to improve.
Renault Group has a long history of researching fuel cells, and combining them with batteries enhances range and power delivery. This dual-energy setup is being implemented in the new Renault Master H2 Tech for light commercial vehicles. The Emblème showcases Renault's vision for hydrogen-electric solutions in passenger cars, contingent on a widespread hydrogen pump network along motorways.
A POWERTRAIN BUILT IN FRANCE
The powertrain of Emblème is manufactured locally at the ElectriCity complex. The wound rotor synchronous electric motor uses no rare earths and is manufactured by the Ampere plant in Cléon (France). The recyclable battery is produced with Verkor. Last, the battery casing is made by the Ampere plant in Ruitz.
TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRALITY AT PRODUCTION SITES
Renault Group aims to reduce manufacturing-related CO2 emissions by 80% by 2030, targeting carbon neutrality for European manufacturing sites by 2030 and for all global facilities by 2050. The focus is on utilizing green energy and improving energy efficiency to "consume less and better."
In France, Renault is optimizing plant sizes and implementing monitoring software to track electricity, gas, and water usage. The launch of the Ecogy energy portal in 2022, part of its industrial metaverse, consolidates data on resource consumption and employs AI to enhance efficiency and identify leaks in real time.
In Spain, the Palencia and Valladolid plants have been powered by 100% green electricity from energy supplier Iberdrola since 2021.
A STRONG LOCAL ECOSYSTEM AROUND AMPÈRE ELECTRICITY
ElectriCity is a unique and compact ecosystem, with 75% of suppliers within a 300km radius and 75% of potential customers within 1,000km. This translates into a 40% reduction in logistics costs
SOURCE: RENAULT PRESS RELEASE
