Electric Renault R4 Rolls Out on La Réunion Island

The classic Renault 4 has been re‑imagined as an electric vehicle with a 52‑kWh battery and a WLTP range of over 400 km. The newly electrified R4 has been tested on La Réunion, the French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, where it navigates the island’s volcanic terrain and coastal roads.

La Réunion, home to about 900 000 residents, operates under French and European automotive policies, offering national subsidies and local incentives that have already made electric and plug‑in hybrid cars a significant part of the market—nearly half of new vehicles are at least partially electrified. The island’s professional dealer network supplies a wide variety of vehicles, including Chinese electric models and conventional French cars. The electric R4’s performance on the island illustrates how EVs can adapt to diverse environments, though real‑world conditions such as tropical heat and shorter coastal routes differ from laboratory range estimates.

The story highlights the broader integration of electric mobility on the island and the practical challenges of adapting legacy models to modern electric powertrains.