Renault has joined the slew of new electric vans being revealed this week with the 2023 Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric joining its range, announced after the Ford E-Transit Custom and pricing for the Mercedes-Benz eVito.
Revealed at the Hanover IAA Transportation show, the Renault Trafic E-Tech is the first electric van for the nameplate, joining the Kangoo and Renault Master in having an electric variant.
The Trafic E-Tech features a 90kW motor, drawing power from a 52kWh battery, driving the front wheels and allowing, Renault claims, a range of up to 240km under WLTP testing.
Compare this to the claimed ranges of the E-Transit Custom at 380km and eVito Panel Van at 262km (for the commercial version), and the French van falls behind. Renault also doesn’t provide estimated 10-80 per cent charging times, which takes 35 minutes in the eVito.
If it’s anything like the Renault Master e-Tech, which also uses a 52kW battery, the Trafic should be able to recover more than 50km of range in 45 minutes.
There are two sizes for the Trafic E-Tech, one being 5.08 metres long, 1.97 metres tall, and with an internal 5.8-metre cubic storage capacity. The other is 5.48 by 2.5 metres and has a capacity of 8.9 cubic metres.
It’s able to accommodate longer loads thanks to a trapdoor in the bulkhead of the longer version, with its internal capacity length increased to 4.15 metres.
It also includes three charger types:
A single-phase 7kW AC charger, suitable for all types of domestic chargingA 22kW AC charger for rapid charging at public charging stationsAn optional 50kW DC charger for fast charging on motorways
At the same event, Renault also revealed a version of the Kangoo e-Tech called the Hippie Caviar Motel, a smaller van that follows the idea of the Hippie Caviar Hotel (based on the Renault Trafic) as a camping van.
While it’s uncertain whether a Hippie Caviar Holiday Inn will follow, the oddly named van shared the stage with the Trafic e-Tech at the IAA Transportation show.
Renault Australia hasn’t revealed any details of local Trafic e-Tech availability, but given the Kangoo e-Tech and Master e-Tech are both sold here, don’t be surprised if pricing and features are announced soon.
Keyword: 2023 Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric revealed in Europe as next electric van after Mercedes-Benz eVito, Ford E-Transit Custom