Renault Zoe electric car testing here

It is the first car to be designed by the company as a fully electric vehicle from the ground up.

But perhaps even more importantly, Renault is keen to make the car affordable for everyone -- even in Australia, which fails to match overseas governments in offering incentives for electric vehicles. Renault has been spotted testing a heavily disguised version of the car on Australian roads.

Zoe is packed with the latest technology and boasts several world premieres geared to enhancing user-friendliness, range and connectivity. Unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Zoe goes on sale in Europe this autumn.

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Zoe is first mass-market electric vehicle to be homologated with an NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) range of 210 km. It is also the first vehicle equipped with Range OptimiZEr that improves the real-world range, depending on driving conditions. For example, in suburban use, the owner will achieve between 100 km and 150 km.

It is capable of being charged at any level of power in between 30 minutes and nine hours thanks to the Chameleon charger. Zoe features Renault R-Link, a multimedia system featuring a seven-inch touch screen tablet, navigation and connected services.

Renault boss Carlos Ghosn said the car shown at Geneva represents the model's final design and will spearhead the Renault zero emissions range. In addition to its compact size, attractive styling and affordable price tag, he said it showcases Renault's technological excellence when it comes to electric vehicles.

"Zoe also heralds the beginning of a new era of electric mobility for all and confirms our commitment to electric vehicles," he said. "It marks an important step for Renault which has a 110-year history of making major innovations a concrete reality for ordinary motorists."