Expert takes a look at 8-year-old Renault Zoe EV with 152,000 miles to see if it still works

The Renault Zoe EV is a pioneer of the European EV revolution, and an expert is now taking a deep dive into a 152,000-mile example to see how it’s holding up.

Armed with curiosity and a camera, he headed to electric vehicle specialists EV Wales to inspect their well-used courtesy car, which rarely sits still long enough to be filmed.

Despite the high mileage, the little hatch still looks surprisingly sharp, with its blue accents, quirky rear door handles, and tidy footprint based on the Renault Clio.

And as he quickly discovers, this pioneer of mass-market EVs still has a lot to offer.

SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie

The Renault Zoe EV was once one of Europe’s most popular EVs

When the Renault Zoe EV launched in 2012, it helped democratize electric motoring in Europe in a way few mainstream cars had managed before.

Affordable, approachable, and genuinely practical, it became one of the continent’s best-selling EVs and remained in production for an impressive 12 years.

This 2017 example examined by HubNut has 152,000 miles on the odometer, making it an ideal test case for long-term durability.

And right away, it surprises: the interior is a bit lived-in (it is a courtesy car, after all), but the range estimate still shows more than 70 miles at just over half a charge.

Underneath the bonnet, the tidy motor and single-speed gearbox haven’t missed a beat.

Even the wipers still operate with enthusiasm, despite creating a ‘triangle of doom’ on the windscreen.

Out on the road, the Zoe is quiet, smooth, and effortlessly torquey, accelerating to 60 mph with minimal fuss.

The expert notes the ride is firmer than expected for a French car, but the handling remains enjoyable and refreshingly simple.

Not flashy, but it does the job

The biggest talking point with older Zoes is the battery.

Many early models were sold with battery leases, meaning buyers paid Renault monthly for the pack.

This is a mixed blessing, depending on your tolerance for subscriptions.

But this particular car shows around 80 percent state of health, which is still perfectly usable for local commuting.

This also debunks a long-standing myth that EV batteries are likely to fail after only a few years of use.

The expert reckons a real-world range of about 80 miles, which is lower than new, but hardly catastrophic for an EV approaching 153,000 miles.

He also highlights a growing aftermarket offering refurbished battery packs and upgrades, keeping these early-era EVs alive long after their warranties expire.

Other than occasional motor-bearing issues, the Zoe’s simplicity keeps running costs low, with annual checks and basic consumables forming the bulk of maintenance.

By the end, he’s impressed.

The Renault Zoe EV may not be the flashiest modern EV, but as this high-mileage survivor proves, it remains a charming and durable reminder of how Europe first embraced electric mobility.

Key European EV breakthroughs

2010: The Nissan Leaf launches in Europe, becoming the first mass-produced modern EV

2012: Debut of the Renault Zoe, accelerating mainstream EV adoption

2016: The BMW i3 proved that premium small EVs can be desirable and high-tech

2019: Tesla Model 3 arrives in Europe, rapidly becoming the best-selling European EV

2020-2022: Major European brands like Volkswagen, Peugeot, Renault and Fiat launch affordable long-range EVs, cementing a market shift

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie