Renault has announced that its new electric van, the Renault Trafic E-Tech 100% electric, is now available for order. This addition to Renault's electric vehicle range aims to cater to the needs of various businesses by offering an affordable, zero-emissions solution. Prices for the new model start from £34,500 plus VAT after the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG). Clearly a typo on the page, but will the Trafic succeed in the highly competitive van market?
The new Renault Trafic E-Tech 100% electric is part of Renault's Pro+ range, which includes the Kangoo E-Tech and the Master E-Tech, providing a comprehensive selection of all-electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs). This range is designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses, irrespective of their size. Other products like the Renault Pro+ (no relation to the speed-like tabs made popular with students in the 80s), have done really well in certain markets. Renault has sold hundreds of these into places like Aberdeen City Council – and would have learned a lot about what's really needed through customer feedback on those early orders.
Versatile Design and Specifications
The Trafic E-Tech is available in three versions, including a high roof model that stands out in the UK market. It offers a choice between two body lengths—5.08 metres and 5.48 metres—and two heights—1.967 metres and 2.498 metres. This flexibility in dimensions allows the vehicle to accommodate a load space ranging from 5.8m3 to 8.9m3. Additionally, the long-wheelbase (LWB) version includes a load-through facility that enables it to carry loads up to 4.15 metres in length. We have asked Renault if there is any kind of collision detection/crash prevention for the roof of the tall model – and we'll update this article when we hear back. It follows a ‘minor bump' that one of our colleagues suffered a few years back… mentioning no names.
Performance and Efficiency
The vehicle is equipped with a 52kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a driving range of up to 186 miles (WLTP) on a single charge. The Trafic E-Tech supports rapid DC charging up to 50kW, allowing the battery to be fully recharged from flat in just an hour. This makes it a practical choice for businesses that require minimal downtime. It would be nice if the superior bulk of the van was used to include a battery that was (at least) a little bigger, but that range will be OK in the city. Remember that most vans spend almost none of their lives on motorways. If you are likely to be charging overnight, on the most economic tariff, then you can install use any standard charger – whether at home or at work.
Practicality and Load Capacity
The Trafic E-Tech offers significant load capacity, with a maximum payload of up to 1,222kg and a towing capacity of up to 920kg. This ensures that the van can handle a wide variety of tasks, making it suitable for many trades and industries.
Cabin Features and Comfort
Inside the cabin, the van is designed to support tradespeople with up to 88 litres of storage space. This includes 19.7 litres in the console, 14.6 litres in the doors, and 54 litres in the bench. The vehicle features a “mobile office,” a folding middle passenger seat that can be transformed into a workspace, complete with a detachable A4 clipboard and laptop storage.
Standard features in the cabin include an Easy Link display with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a range of safety systems. These systems include full LED headlights, rear parking sensors, cruise control with a speed limiter, intelligent speed assist, active emergency braking, tyre pressure warning, lane departure warning, driver attention alert, and drowsiness warning.
Standard and Optional Equipment
The standard equipment list for the Trafic E-Tech is comprehensive. It includes a premium dashboard with horizontal grain and chrome styling, a 7-inch colour TFT driver information display, a height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment and an armrest, electric front windows with one-touch opening on the driver’s side, and air conditioning with a pollen filter.
For those looking for additional features, the van offers a range of optional equipment. These options include climate control, heated seats, 360° parking sensors, a rear parking camera, automatic high beam, automatic headlights, rain-sensitive wipers, blind spot warning, and various door and glazing configurations.
At first glance, there doesn't seem to be an induction/wireless charger, but we have asked to confirm. Given that you can buy the technology off Amazon (as a desktop charging pad) for less than £15, it's hard to see why £40,000 vans don't have them built in – to avoid having to trail wires all around your cabin.
Market Position and Availability
Renault hopes that the Trafic E-Tech 100% electric will make a significant impact in the UK market, by providing a versatile and practical electric van option at a competitive price. The vehicle's combination of flexibility, performance, and comprehensive standard equipment makes it a compelling choice for businesses looking to transition to electric vehicles. That will largely depend on the deals being offered for purchase/lease etc.
Renault has stated that the order books are now open and the first deliveries are expected to commence from September. Renault says that this launch shows its commitment to expanding its electric vehicle offerings and supporting businesses in reducing their carbon footprint. That will be useful when it is no longer possible to sell diesel vans. The introduction of the Trafic E-Tech does add to Renault's fledgling portfolio of electric commercial vehicles, as the company works to provide an option for every business need. It hopes that small businesses as well as larger enterprises consider short-listing the Trafic when defining an efficient/sustainable transport solution for themselves.
What is WhichEV looking for next?
We've only recently reported that Dacia (part of the Renault Group) has launched a genuine £14,995 EV called the Spring into the UK market. There must be millions of pounds worth of business in the UK commercial vehicle space, waiting for a company like Dacia/Renault to launch a sensible commercial van in the sub-£28,000 space.
That price point is close to the price of the most popular vans over the last 5 years in the UK. The move toward EV vans has been far too slow – and price is a major factor here. Whichever van-maker moves first, will certainly pick up a ton of business.
We say, “Come on Renault – give the people what they need!”
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