Renault Elect'road

The Elect'Road was a plug-in series hybrid version of the Renault Kangoo, sold from 2003 mainly in France, Norway and a few in the United Kingdom alongside Renault's battery-electric Electri'cité Kangoo. Renault discontinued it after selling about 500 for around 25,000 euros. A nickel-cadmium battery pack of 13.2 kWh gave a range of 60 to 100 kilometres on electricity alone, and a small 16 kW liquid-cooled Lombardini petrol range extender engine, running a generator, raised the total range to about 150 kilometres. The article calls it effectively the very first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, since it works in a blended mode with engine and battery power used together. The battery lived in two cases under the chassis, a 3.5 kW onboard charger refilled it in about four hours from a 220 volt supply, and a boost mode raised the maximum power from 22 to 29 kW.