The Renault Zoe electric car is far and away Europe’s best-selling plug-in model, and it’s about to double-down on that appeal.

We mean that literally, with a refreshed model set to double the range of the current Zoe by taking you right up to 248 miles on a single charge.

This is only the model’s fifth year, so this was the first major refresh that we’ve seen. Renault made the announcement before unveiling the new Zoe at the Paris Motor Show, showcasing a new 41-kilowatt-hour battery pack that makes even the 22-kwh pack utilized in earlier versions seem significantly outdated.

A European test cycle saw the Zoe making a range of 300 to 400 kilometres (185 to 250 miles). That’s a radical increase of 108 miles over the outgoing car, plus a 93-mile bump over the Nissan Leaf. Of course, individual driving styles will have some impact on that figure during real-world driving, but it still puts the Zoe firmly at the front of the pack. Not many technical details have yet been released, but the battery has been confirmed as using cells from Korean company LG Chem.

It’s also set to be a more affordable version than ever, demonstrating Renault’s ability to both push the standards of the industry further and make the electric plug-in segment more accessible for a wider range of people. If you’re worried about running out of juice, the Zoe should put your mind at rest, and its reduced price point lowers the barrier to entry while making it easier for the vehicle to pay for itself as fuel prices continue to rise.

In the words of one company representative: “The new battery removes the final psychological barrier that stands in the way of buying an electric car since Zoe users can now travel further and enjoy a wider variety of driving situations without worrying about charging.”

In terms of style, the new Zoe carries over plenty that made the older model so well-loved. In fact, the new battery pack fits in the same form factor as the old one, so no engineering changes were needed. The most significant updates are going to be found under the bonnet, not across the body, although we’re sure Renault will be sweetening the deal by offering a variety of new standard and available features for drivers to take advantage of. We can’t wait to find out more about this ground-breaking new electric plug-in.