Used Renault Zoe-can a case be made to buy one?

[mickthemaverick]

Interesting, he confirms that an HPI check will show up a battery lease whereas the auctioneer said that HPI told him there is no outstanding battery lease. This evidence is leading me to think the lease had been bought out and the battery is now owned by the car owner?

[NewcastleFalcon]

I take it then that you two don't accept the auctioneers words about HPI check not showing any finance on the battery when normally they do show up?

Renault Zoes were pretty much all sold with battery leases at that time. Some owners fairly recently could buy out leases for a one off payment, some will have done it. RCI are the only ones who can confirm whether a battery lease exists/does not exist for that vehicle. I would want that confirmation. Maybe the lease payments are up to date, maybe the RCI battery lease doesn't appear on an HPI check...dont know

Maybe an anomaly, there may be no finance outstanding on the vehicle itself, but as far as the battery is concerned the lease is for hire of the battery, and may not come up on an HPI check on reg no of vehicle.


Neil

[xantia_v6]

This video says that you can check whether a Zoe was sold new with a leased or owned battery by putting the reg into a site like Auto trader, and see it the model is "Zoe" or "Zoe I". In the case of the vehicle under discussion here, Autotrader helpfully describes the car as having a leased battery.

[NewcastleFalcon]

just posting this while Mike replied. That little indicator covers original "cars with bought battery" but not any subsequent buy-outs of leases which only came on stream 2018 ish onwards when RCI started to allow buy-outs
(the vid is from 2017 so the end bit has now moved on).

How do I know if a used vehicle has a leased or owned battery?

https://www.speakev.com/threads/how-do- ... battery%3F

Advice here the original bought battery car from the showrooms had the little "i" identifier.

Little blue i badge on the back, and if you look inside the door cards there will be the model name. If that has Dynamique -i then that confirms it too.

You can also put the reg into Autotrader's valuation tool and see if that comes back with Dynamique-i. Finally you can always ring RCI (Renault's Finance company) and ask them to confirm if they have a lease against the battery on it.

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks for that video Mike as well as the info from Neil. I am now convinced that the car was sold new with a leased battery, the only outstanding question being has the lease been bought out? I have emailed RCI with that query and hopefully we will get a reply tomorrow!!

[mickthemaverick]

I just had an automated reply - unbelievable I'll have to try ringing the number tomorrow!!

Own work

[NewcastleFalcon]

https://www.gogreenautos.co.uk/buyers-g ... -explained

I think these rates still apply Gibbo will be able to confirm. Latterly RCI made the lease for the Zoe 22kWh a term-less scheme, where you simply pay based on mileage alone and there is no fixed term. A normal sales transaction would be the previous owner/ new owner informing RCI of the date of sale, and RCI actioning the end of one agreement with the previous owner and the start of a new one with the new vehicle owner.

Battery Rental Including Assistance
Excess Miles £0.08/mile
All prices include VAT

up to 4000 £49/month
up to 6000 £54/month
up to 7500 £69/month
up to 9000 £79/month
up to 10500 £89/month
up to 12000 £99/month

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

As we've seen on the How many miles thread I am doing a lot more than 12k a year so the battery lease payment would make it non viable for me if it is still leased
Tomorrow's phone call may tell me unless I have to wait for Monday!

[bobins]

A bit of a side-issue, but if RCI told you the battery is still leased, and you informed the auction company of this - is the auction company duty bound to inform all potential buyers that the car now comes with a leased battery ?

[mickthemaverick]

Good point bobins, it seems to me that it may be that they would not be allowed to sell it according to the chap in Neil's link! Motor traders rules are specialised so I am sure there will be a correct procedure to follow.

[NewcastleFalcon]

As we've seen on the How many miles thread I am doing a lot more than 12k a year so the battery lease payment would make it non viable for me if it is still leased
Tomorrow's phone call may tell me unless I have to wait for Monday!

I imagined if you were considering it for your household you would run it as a "detached" hybrid pretty much like my Leaf and Micra, but in your case the senior partner would be the Subaru and the junior the Zoe.
Get something for the right price and its a shot to nothing. That auction Zoe with the potential baggage should be the cheapest Zoe in the country. Iron out the baggage and you will be able to sell at any time for either not much more than you paid for it, or indeed a cut above what you paid for it. I suspect RCI probably are as keen to get out of the hassle of these old battery leases as anyone, so a proposal could well be successful. Bearing in mind all the time that buyout of the lease adds to the resale value of the vehicle, very often on a £ for £ basis.

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

I was considering it for SWMBO to use around town, there lies another snag! Would you believe she doesn't like the colour'! As we all know, that is the death knoll for any potential deal!! Nevertheless I can't refuse the chance of a project to make a few pounds and learn a lot so I'm not out of the running yet!

[mickthemaverick]

The other option that has occurred to me involves me talking to my mancave mate Dave. At the right price it may give us the necessary running gear to resurrect my MX3 conversion plan. Food for thought!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

The other option that has occurred to me involves me talking to my mancave mate Dave. At the right price it may give us the necessary running gear to resurrect my MX3 conversion plan. Food for thought!!

To do that, it will no doubt be the cheapest way of acquiring 22kWh of batteries...but the pre-requisite if RCI currently own the batteries (ie the batteries are leased) is that you will have to agree a buy-out price with RCI after they have accepted you as the new lessee and set up a new battery agreement in your name.

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

To do that, it will no doubt be the cheapest way of acquiring 22kWh of batteries...but the pre-requisite if RCI currently own the batteries (ie the batteries are leased) is that you will have to agree a buy-out price with RCI after they have accepted you as the new lessee and set up a new battery agreement in your name.

Neil

Yes indeed Neil, all depends on the current status of the battery. The fact is, if it turns out not to be leased then I will still be interested but if it is leased the project will lie dead in the water!!