Electric power, for sustainability
Renault R.S. 2027 Vision’s two electric motors are powered by high-energy-capacity batteries, enabling the driver to switch to all-electric mode at certain stages, as when taking position on the starting grid or at pit entry and exit.
Renault was the first European automaker to believe in electric vehicles for zero-emission* transport, fielding a full range as early as 2012. Renault continues to lead the way on the European electric vehicles market, with an offering spearheaded by New ZOE, which doubled the electric vehicle travel range up to 400 km NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), which translates to around 300 km under actual driving conditions.
*Zero CO2 and regulation-specified atmospheric pollutants emitted by the vehicle (except from wear parts) during the NEDC vehicle certification cycle.
As the cockpit closes, the driver leaves the pit heading for the track in all-electric mode.
A connected single-seater for safety
For enhanced safety, the F1 racers that Renault sees running around 2027 use connection capability for permanent information interchange with the other cars on the track and with the racetrack infrastructures and stewards. For example, drivers will see race management instructions such as the yellow flag directly on the steering-wheel digital display, and be able to react immediately.
Connection capability is already a reality on Renault vehicles today, making driving safer, more pleasant and less tiring. Renault is also a partner on the European SCOOP@F cooperative project running pilot operations on technologies for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) exchange. A typical example would be for a car broken down on the motorway to send an automatic warning signal to the vehicles behind it and to the nearest authorities. This kind of system will be tested using no fewer than a thousand Méganes, specially equipped by Renault, later this year, along more than 2,000 km of roadways and city streets throughout France.
Infrastructure connection means the racer has a direct link through to race management.
Autonomous driving on the way
Ongoing advances and progressive rollout of vehicle connection technologies will naturally lead to a degree of automation in the driving experience, eventually culminating in the autonomous vehicle. This, indeed, is a feature implemented on the Renault R.S. 2027 Vision, again for safety reasons: autonomous driving switches in automatically on detection of a race incident (safety car, virtual safety car, yellow flag, etc.) to ensure the safety of drivers and stewards.
Renault is actively pursuing the development of autonomous driving technology for its production models. The first vehicles with autonomous driving functions are expected over the next few years. By 2020 we’ll be seeing single-lane control on motorways. Thereafter, Renault will be one of the first volume automakers to offer eyes-off/hands-off technology (enabling drivers to take their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel) on mass-market cars.
If the safety car is called out, the racer switches to autonomous mode automatically.
Discover R.S. 2027 Vision, presented by the Design and Renault Sport Racing teams. Be transported into the future of F1:
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