Renault partners with conversion business to create fully electric classics

Renault in France has launched the first of three electric retrofit kits, in partnership with EV conversion business R-FIT1.

The kits are fully homologated for roads registration in France and pricing (including labour to install) starts from €11,900 (Au$18,400).

The first kit to be released is for the Renault 4 and was shown at the recent classic auto show, Rétromobile.

Sometimes also known as the 4L, over 8 million examples of the model were produced worldwide between 1961 and 1994. (The R4 was even assembled here in Australia between 1962 and 1966).

For French owners of what is now a classic car, the kit simply slots in to replace the existing motor whilst leaving the existing gearbox in place to use as per normal. This is fortunate for, as part of the kit’s approval, the electric replacement is no more powerful that the original ICE one – which even in 1983 had only reached the ‘heady’ heights of 34 horsepower (25kW).

With a battery voltage or 105V and capacity 10.7kWh, it is certainly no ball of fire in terms of performance or range, however as a way to reinvigorate a classic car for the 21st century – it is certainly a worthy option to consider. Conversion would give new life to these vehicles as a cheap, local run-around car (as wanted by many, including Bob recently.)

R-FIT1 are also planning to release a second kit in September this year: this time for the Renault 5 (the R5 was produced between 1972 and 1996), with another for the first generation Renault Twingo (produced between 1993 and 2004) to be made available soon after the release of the R5 kit.

It is worth noting that only the R4 was ever officially brought to Australia, and then in relatively limited numbers. Also, as only the early R4 was produced in Australia there are very few remaining here now.

However the R4, R5 and first generation Twingo were very popular in France, Europe and many other parts of the world, so there is a considerable number of these cars still left running around that would be ripe for conversion to short-range use.

Sadly, with so few remaining Australian R4s (and those being some 30 years older than the newest ones elsewhere) there is little hope of the kits being brought to Australia.

On the other hand, it does give a pointer as to what is possible given backing from a major manufacturer to develop conversion kits and kick-start create a niche conversion market. Perhaps Toyota could get behind electrification and back the development of a kit for an early Toyota Corolla?

RFIT website: https://rfitvintage.com/

Technical data for the electric retrofit kit designed for the Renault 4:

• Original mechanical transmission system untouched
• Brushless synchronous engine
• Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery
• Weight distribution unchanged
• Driving range of approximately 80 km
• Full charge in 3 hours 30
• Electronic battery charge gauge
• Recharge via a 16A – 220 V domestic plug
• 105 V battery pack with capacity of 10.7 kWh
• 5 kWp/48 kWp engine
• Two-year guarantee