Feeding the e-motor in this Emblème is a 30 kWh NMC battery and a 2.8 kg hydrogen tank.
With prices going through the roof and the number of refuelling stations going through the floor, the future of hydrogen to power cars is looking bleaker than ever before. But Renault at least still seems to be one of the few who have a modicum of faith in this alternative fuel, as evidenced by its recently revealed Emblème hydrogen-hybrid crossover concept.
The Emblème comes as part of Renault’s wider strategy to be carbon neutral in Europe by 2040, and all over the world just 10 years later. Its maker is currently aiming for this concept to preview a potential viable long-range transport solution that emits 90% fewer lifetime emissions than today’s petrol Captur compact crossover, and even 80% fewer emissions than the Megane BEV (to which this concept incidentally shares its Ampr Medium platform with).
Propelling the Emblème is a rear-mounted 215 hp electric motor, which Renault would like to highlight here does not contain any rare earth metals. Though perhaps what is the more interesting thing with this concept will be what feeds said drive-unit, which in this case is a 40-kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) pack paired to a hydrogen tank that holds up to 2.8 kg of hydrogen.
Renault is currently claiming that this hydrogen-hybrid powertrain of the Emblème could see it do a 1000 km journey in the same time as a current ICE car, assuming it takes two five-minute stops to brim the hydrogen tank. It further adds that 75% of the electricity used from a long-distance journey from Paris to Marseille would come from hydrogen, which infers for its battery pack to provide roughly 300 km of range.
What is perhaps most technically impressive regarding this Renault under the skin however is that is that in spite of all its twin energy storage solutions, the Emblème only tips the scales at 1,750 kg. And for added context as to what this is a rather remarkable feat, the similarly-sized BEV Scenic comes in 100 kg heavier at 1,850 kg.
Discussing its exterior now, the Emblème certainly goes down the Peugeot 408 route of being a hodge-podge of vehicle segments rolled into one, with this high-riding mid-sized fastback further one-upping the lion marque’s model by featuring a shooting brake-style rump as well. Renault claims here that its aerodynamics were prioritised in the design, with drag-reduction methods and equipment borrowed from its Alpine Formula 1 team.
Among the aero-optimised exterior elements of the Emblème includes the incorporation of compact cameras right above its front flared wheel arches to replace chunky side mirrors, while the underside is supposedly sealed flat and features an active diffuser. All these little touches helps this concept claim an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.25, which is markedly better than the current Megane’s 0.29.
Unfortunately for those wanting a sneak peek at its interior, Renault has remained mum about what the Emblème looks like within for this concept’s premiere at the 2024 Paris Motor Show taking place next week (17th – 24th October). The French marque has nevertheless said that its EV development arm Ampere will unveil the car ’in full’ at the end of October.
Funnily enough, the Emblème is actually to be Renault’s second crack at a hydrogen-hybrid crossover concept. The first one came in the form of its Scenic Vision concept that was first unveiled back in 2022, which eventually became a BEV production car a couple of years later.
So while Renault might not do a Honda and debut this Emblème concept with its hydrogen-hybrid powertrain, there could possible still be the chance for this wild design to make it into production reality some time in the near future.
