Renault battery car in three years

• Renault battery car at advanced stage
• Nissan X-Trail-based 4x4 due, too
• New executive car also in the pipeline

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Renault could have an affordable battery-powered electric car on sale in three to four years, according to president and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Ghosn, who drives a zero-emission fuel cell car when in his home city of Tokyo, says that Renault is currently testing pricing with large fleet operators.

According to Ghosn, Renault is already one of the most efficient car makers when it comes to carbon dioxide, but that could be in danger as Renault pushes forward with its commitment to launch 24 new cars across the world between now and 2009.

The list of new cars includes a new 4x4 based on partner firm Nissan's X-Trail and a new executive car to replace the ill-fated Vel Satis.

'Classical technologies will play a big part in reducing carbon dioxide', according to Ghosn, 'but when it comes to urban driving, nothing will be solved until you come to zero emissions.'

Stung by criticism that Renault's latest Twingo and Laguna models had lost some of the company's styling flair, Ghosn promised that Renault was still capable of producing original cars, starting with next year's new Megane.