Renault has extended its pure-electric commercial vehicle range with the addition of the compact Kangoo E-Tech van.
Originally launched in 2011, the electric Kangoo has found 70,000 customers since then, accounting for one in five electric utility vehicles sold in Europe.
Ahead of its first public appearance at the Solutrans show in Lyon, France, Renault has unveiled the new-generation Kangoo E-Tech, representing the culmination of 10 years of customer use and feedback.
Kangoo E-Tech: Electric Power
The front end of the Kangoo E-Tech hides an electric motor that produces 120hp and 245Nm of torque. While performance figures haven’t been provided, that should be more than enough to keep up with urban and motorway traffic, even when fully loaded.
With no gearbox – electric motors don’t need gears – there’ll be no clunky gearchanges or gaps in power, making progress both smooth and refined, as well as significantly more relaxing – especially in the city. The combination of near-silent running and the lack of vibration in the cabin caused by an engine combine to create a sense of calm in any electric vehicle.
Kangoo E-Tech: Electric Range and Recharging
Under the floor lies a 45kWh capacity battery pack, with enough energy to drive the Renault Kangoo for 186 miles, according to WLPT testing. With the average van barely covering 50 miles in a day, that could mean recharging just once every few days.
The reality is that most electric vehicles are left plugged in and charging overnight, where the standard on-board charger connection will allow the van to go from 15% battery level right up to a full charge in under four hours when connected to a regular home charging station.
Optional charger connections offering faster speeds will be available, right up to 80kW speeds – that can see the van receiving 106 miles of range, or nearly 60% charge, in just 30 minutes. To keep the battery pack in good condition, the two optional chargers also include liquid cooling for the cells.
Kangoo E-Tech: Cabin Comfort
Available with three front seats with a central folding backrest that turns into a mobile office, the Kangoo’s cabin offers almost 60 litres of storage in the cab. The practical nature of the Kangoo is enhanced by the latest technology, including smartphone connectivity packages.
The Renault smartphone app and Renault Easy Link multimedia system come with a selection of connected services that can be used to programme and schedule battery charging, remotely monitor battery levels, pre-heat or cool the passenger compartment, search for charging stations along the route, or calculate which destinations are accessible with the remaining battery.
These are joined by the same equipment and comfort as the diesel-powered Kangoo, and includes a multimedia system with an 8.0-inch display, hands-free key card, and automatic parking brake.
Safety is looked after by the inclusion of adaptive cruise control – which operates down to a standstill – and a motorway companion that marks the first step toward autonomous driving. Information about the selected driving mode, electric power management, and safety systems is displayed on a fully customisable, although optional, 10-inch digital instrument panel.
The Kangoo E-Tech’s air conditioning system comes fitted with an energy-efficient heat pump that takes heat from the air around the vehicle to warm the passenger compartment. A heated windscreen, heated front seats, and heated steering wheel are available as optional extras, all of which will reduce energy consumption.
Kangoo E-Tech: Cargo Capacity
The 45kWh battery pack is located under the vehicle’s floor and has no impact on the cargo area capacity.
The Kangoo E-Tech boasts the same haulage and traction capacity as its diesel-powered counterpart – storage volume of up to 3.9m3 is available (and up to 4.9m3 in the yet-to-be-released longer length Kangoo) with a 600kg payload (rising to 800kg in the longer vehicle) and 1,500kg of towing capacity.
Kangoo E-Tech: Price and Availability
The All-new Kangoo Van E-Tech electric will be sold throughout Europe starting in spring 2022. Prices have yet to be released.
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