Renault renews electric LCV range

The new Renault Kangoo Van E-Tech with up to 300km range (WLTP) is geared to meet the everyday needs of professional customers, while the new 52kWh Master E-Tech Electric has up to 200km range in its 15 versions.

These models mark the start of a new all-electric light commercial vehicle (LCV) range without compromise., says Renault, adding the vans have loads of new tech including side wind assist (standard) that activates above 70km/h and corrects of up to 50% of the vehicle’s lateral deviation in extreme driving conditions.

In placing the battery under the floor panel, the new Kangoo van’s cargo capacity remains unaltered with up to 3.9m3 of storage volume in the L1 version (4.9m3 in the long format model), 600kg of payload (800kg in long format model), and 500kg towing capacity.

Just over 10 years ago, Kangoo won ‘International Van of the Year’ with its first all-electric version. This past decade of experience and intensive use by professional users has enabled Renault to continue leading electric LCVs.

The new Kangoo Van E-Tech Electric’s extended range comes from a new 45kWh lithium-ion battery, comprising eight independent and easily repairable modules.

Available on versions with a 22kW charger, the battery has a liquid cooling system and an electrical resistance allowing use in the right temperature zone, and thus maintaining its autonomy and reducing the charging time.

The batteries are guaranteed for eight years or 160,000km during which time they are replaced free if their capacity degrades to less than 70% of their nominal value (SoH).

The Kangoo Van E-Tech Electric comes with a 90kW motor boasting 245Nm of torque, its Eco mode capping the vehicle’s power output and top speed which helps optimise range and is best used when carrying a light load.

The driver can choose between three regenerative braking regimes: Sailing (display light B1) – limited regenerative mode, suitable for driving on motorways and fast lanes; Drive (B2) – default regenerative mode for versatile use, and Brake (B3) – maximum regenerative mode for use in traffic jams and on mountain roads.

Conventional hydraulic braking is assisted by an adaptive regenerative brake (ARB) system, which maximises the amount of recovered energy regardless of the selected braking regime.

The range of drive mode/braking regime combinations means drivers can choose between six different driving styles for optimal comfort and range according to their specific vehicle use and traffic conditions.

It has regulated air conditioning with a heat pump which preserves up to 85km of WLTP autonomy.

A 22kW three-phase charger is carried for accelerated charging at public terminals.

As an option, an 80kW DC fast charger allows the van to recover 170km of autonomy in 30 minutes

The Renault factory in Maubeuge, France, along with the Douai and Ruitz facilities, forms the heart of the new ElectriCity hub through which Renault plans to produce 400,000 EVs annually by 2025.

It has invested 450 million euros in the factory and installed a new battery assembly workshop.

The electric motor and charging units for the e-van are manufactured at Renault’s Cleon factory in Normandy.

Renault’s large electric van, the new Master Van E-Tech Electric 52kWh also has conventional hydraulic braking assisted by an ARB system, which maximizes the amount of recovered energy regardless of the selected braking regime.

The van’s Eco mode – limiting the maximum power and speed – paired with low resistance tyres ensure maximum range and maximum driving comfort.

A single-phase 7.4kW AC charger, suitable for all types of domestic charging, is provided along with a 22kW DC charger for accelerated charging at public charging stations, allowing 50km of range to be recovered in 45 minutes.

The battery takes five hours to reach 80% charge when plugged into a 7.4kW wallbox, and 10 hours on a 3.7kW domestic.

The Master E-Tech Electric features the energy-efficient electric motor with a power of 57kW, ideal for driving on both urban and peri-urban roads with great flexibility.

It will be available in 15 versions instead of the original six, with a choice of three different lengths and three different heights, available in 3.1t and 3.5t when orders open and later in 3.8t.

The four van versions offer a cargo volume of eight to 15m3. The two ‘cab-floor’ versions come in either L2 or L3 and are ideal bases for flatbed, dump or large volume conversions that can carry up to 20m3.

The final Australian and New Zealand line-up and specification has yet to be decided and may vary from this launch information.

Final model line-up, pricing, specification and launch dates for both Kangoo E-Tech and Master E-Tech in New Zealand will be confirmed in due course.