Renault Emblème is a fully operational prototype that tests the limits of low-carbon mobility across the entire vehicle lifecycle. Developed by Ampere, Renault Group’s electric mobility unit, Emblème aims to demonstrate how automotive engineering, design, materials and manufacturing can be collectively optimised to achieve deep decarbonisation. The car emits only five tonnes of CO₂ equivalent from cradle to grave. This figure has been verified through a complete lifecycle analysis audited by IFPEN, an independent French energy institute.
The Emblème is designed as a five-door, 4.8-metre-long family shooting brake with a 2.9-metre wheelbase. It combines elegant design with aerodynamic efficiency and advanced digital features. But its true innovation lies in how each stage of the vehicle’s life—from raw material extraction to end-of-life recycling—has been rethought to reduce emissions. About 50 percent of the car is made from recycled materials, and over 90 percent of its components are recyclable. Emblème’s total weight is kept to 1,800 kg to enhance energy efficiency without compromising comfort, safety or utility.
At the core of its powertrain is a dual-energy system comprising a 40 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery and a 30 kW hydrogen fuel cell supported by a 2.8 kg hydrogen tank. This architecture gives the Emblème a driving range of up to 1,000 km, matching conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in long-distance capability. Daily use relies mostly on the electric battery, which is charged via regenerative braking, plug-in systems or photovoltaic cells. The hydrogen fuel cell steps in for longer journeys, enabling two five-minute refuelling stops for a combined 700 km range.
Inside, Emblème’s cabin has natural and recycled materials—such as pineapple fibres, linen from Normandy and additive-synthesis polyester—replacing traditional plastics and leather. The dashboard features a 1.2-metre-long curved openR screen, and the entire cabin is designed with modularity, comfort and digital interaction in mind. All multimedia and comfort features use energy-efficient components, and manual controls are reduced in favour of subtle touch and voice-based commands.
The Emblème project involved over 20 industrial partners contributing low-carbon solutions, from lightweight aluminium doors by Constellium to recyclable insulation from Autoneum and high-efficiency tyres by Michelin. Even elements like wipers, door handles and electronic controls were redesigned to reduce CO₂ emissions. Renault and Ampere coordinated these efforts under a shared methodology that considers supply chains, production energy sources and circular economy principles.
Manufacturing is centred in northern France, where components such as the wound-rotor motor and battery casing are produced at Ampere ElectriCity, a carbon-conscious ecosystem sourcing 75 percent of suppliers within 300 km. The factories aim to cut emissions by 62 percent by 2030, using energy monitoring systems and smart data analytics to minimise waste and inefficiencies.
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