Renault reveals the Embleme, a hydrogen-powered coupe-SUV concept for 2030, boasting 90% lower lifetime emissions compared to today’s petrol Captur.
Renault has introduced the Embleme concept, a striking 4.8-meter-long hydrogen-powered coupé-SUV that aims to deliver long-range mobility while reducing lifetime emissions by 90% compared to today’s petrol Captur, and by 80% compared to the Megane BEV.
As the successor to the Scenic Vision, the Embleme features a hydrogen-fueled range-extender powertrain, combining a 30kW fuel cell with a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery. Unlike hydrogen models such as the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, which have batteries smaller than 2kWh, the Embleme uses its battery for city driving while relying on hydrogen to recharge when needed.
Renault claims that the Embleme can cover up to 1000 kilometers (621 miles) in the same amount of time as a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle, with two five-minute stops needed to refill its 2.8kg hydrogen tank. On a long-distance trip, such as from Paris to Marseille (or Aberdeen to London), Renault says that around 75% of the electricity used would come from hydrogen.
While the Embleme is still a concept, it shares its Ampr Medium platform with the Megane and Scenic BEVs. The Scenic was initially introduced as a hydrogen concept before transitioning to production, suggesting that a similar path could be taken for the Embleme with an electric powertrain.
Powering the Embleme is a single electric motor on the rear axle, producing 215bhp. The vehicle weighs approximately 1750kg, which is around 100kg lighter than the Scenic. Renault has focused heavily on aerodynamics, employing methods from the Alpine Formula 1 team, including replacing side mirrors with cameras to reduce drag and adding a sealed flat underbody with an active diffuser. These enhancements contribute to a drag coefficient of 0.25—significantly better than the Megane’s 0.29.
With these innovations, Renault projects a lifetime carbon emissions total of just five tonnes for the Embleme, compared to 24 tonnes for the Megane and 49 tonnes for the petrol Captur.
The Renault Embleme will make its debut at next week’s Paris Motor Show, though without a complete interior. Renault’s EV development division, Ampere, plans to reveal the full version of the vehicle by the end of October.
