Renault’s Ampere EV division has revealed radical new ways to decarbonise its cars “from head to toe” with a new concept.

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Showcased at the Paris Motor Show, the Emblème shooting brake demo car teams up hybrid and electric powertrains and a cradle-to-grave approach to weeding out carbon.

The resultant family vehicle emits 90% less greenhouse gases (CO2e) over its entire life cycle than an equivalent vehicle produced today, according to the carmaker.

The rear-mounted dual-energy electric powertrain is powered by electricity and hydrogen as “an optimal combination for low-carbon driving over both short and long distances”.

The 215hp motor is powered by both a 40kWh NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery housed under the floor pan, and a fuel cell running on low-carbon hydrogen from a 2.8kg tank located under the front hood. According to Ampere, the Emblème should be able to cover over 620 miles.

For day-to-day driving, the vehicle functions in the same way as a conventional electric car, with the battery charged by regenerative braking, photovoltaic cells on the roof or from a socket or charge point. It has a range of several hundred kilometres.

For longer journeys, it will rely more on the hydrogen fuel cell in order to minimise charging times.

Combining the qualities of hydrogen and electric, the dual-energy system delivers all the benefits of electric driving, including instant acceleration, silent running and a lack of vibrations, while also delivering a longer dual-power range and enabling quick hydrogen refuelling.

The concept car also explores “intelligent, credible and viable combinations” in areas such as resources, materials, production, use and end-of-life recovery.

It delivers a 70% reduction in the carbon footprint of its components, uses 50% recycled materials and almost all of the materials used which can be recycled at the end of their life.

Renault Group said the Emblème demonstrates the capacity of Ampere and its partners to innovate in order to maximise vehicle decarbonisation in the future.

Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group and Ampere, said: “Emblème embodies our ecosystem approach and the level of our ambition when it comes 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 tonne footprint: for Emblème, it’s 5 tonnes, cradle to grave. It’s a masterpiece.”