French carmaker Renault has debuted its latest concept car, named ‘Emblème’, as part of its plan to achieve carbon neutrality worldwide by 2050.
Unveiled at this year’s Paris Motor Show, Emblème pairs hybrid and electric power with a full lifecycle approach to cutting carbon. Renault says the vehicle emits 90% less greenhouse gas (CO2) over its lifetime compared to an average car today.
“No single component of decarbonization can be treated in isolation. For a vehicle, this means working on its entire lifecycle (‘from cradle to grave’) in five areas: eco-design, choice of resources, manufacture, use and end-of-life,” the company said in a press release.
The concept car also examines “practical and effective combinations” in areas like resources, materials, production, use, and end-of-life recovery.
Hydrogen fuel cell for longer drives
The Emblème’s rear-mounted powertrain combines electricity and hydrogen for low-carbon driving over any distance. Its 215hp motor runs on a 40kWh battery under the floor and a hydrogen fuel cell from a 2.8kg tank in the front. The group’s EV wing Ampere estimates it can travel over 620 miles on a full charge.
For daily drives, the vehicle works like a regular electric car, with the battery being recharged by regenerative braking, rooftop solar panels, or a standard charge point.
On longer trips, Emblème shifts to the hydrogen fuel cell to reduce charging times. The company further notes that the dual-energy system combines the benefits of electric driving—like instant acceleration, quiet operation, and smoothness—with extended range and fast hydrogen refueling.
90% less carbon footprint
In comparison, Renault Megane E-Tech electric emits 26.4 tons of CO2 over its lifetime. This is about half the emissions of a comparable petrol model, such as the Captur, which releases 55 tons of CO2. The Emblème project aims to cut this even further, targeting just 5.5 tons from cradle to grave—a reduction of nearly 90%.
According to Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group and Ampere, the Emblème represents the company’s commitment to building a sustainable future through technological innovation.
“It is proof that automotive is still driving progress… keeping emotion in the equation! It embodies the future Design Language of the Renault brand, what we call ‘La Nouvelle Vague’. An average ICE car has a 50 tons footprint: for Emblème, it’s 5 tons, cradle to grave. It’s a masterpiece,” he added.
Furthermore, the concept also enables a 70% reduction in the carbon footprint of materials, including steel, aluminum, plastics, tires, glass, electronics, screens, and recyclables.
“With a 70% reduction in the carbon footprint of its components, 50% recycled materials and almost all of the materials used which can be recycled at the end of their life, Renault Emblème demonstrates the capacity of Ampere and its partners to innovate in order to maximize vehicle decarbonization in the future,” the press release stated.
