Renault revised the Trafic model range a year or two ago, giving the van a much-needed update after Fiat and Vauxhall left the joint venture that created the original vehicle 23 years ago, explains John Kendall.
Renault did a good job modernising the van, but it was clearly missing an electric version. The manufacturer has now put that right, although it will ease the E-Tech into the range in phases. The longer L2 panel van variant — available with two roof heights — will open proceedings, joined by a chassis cab and a crew cab van. Deliveries for these models are set to begin in November. Following this, the shorter L1 variant in both van and crew cab forms will be available, with deliveries starting in December.
Like all other Trafic models, the E-Tech electric will be made at Renault’s Sandouville plant near Le Havre in northern France. The motor and chargers are produced at Renault’s plant in nearby Cléon in Normandy. Battery assembly takes place at Flins, near Paris, and the electric conversion is carried out at Renault’s plant in Gretz-Armainvilliers, across Paris from Flins.
Despite the very Renault-ness of the build, it’s powered by the same electric motor used in the Nissan Townstar and Mercedes-Benz Citan electric vans, as well as the Renault Kangoo. Its 52kWh battery pack is also the same as that used in the Renault Master electric, and weighs 315kg alone. Installed in the Trafic, it’s good for up to 184 miles of range.
The van’s basic structure dates back to the late 1990s, so it was never designed for electric power. Nonetheless, the conversion is impressive, and free from some of the electrical noise found in other electric vehicles.
Our L2H1 test vehicle was loaded with a 300kg sample load. Apart from settling the ride down, it was easy to forget it was there, as the instant high torque output characteristic of all-electric vehicles ensured minimal impact on performance. There’s 122hp available, backed up by 245Nm of torque.
We also had a through-loading bulkhead, stretching load length up to 4.15m for appropriately shaped items like fencing posts or rods. Opting for the H2 roof will provide even more space, with Renault claiming 8.9m3 of load volume and payload limits as high as 950kg.
Electric vans are generally easy to drive, with no gearbox to worry about and lower noise levels, making for a more relaxed experience. That holds true here, as this is undoubtedly the easiest Trafic to drive. Familiar displays and switchgear from Renault cars
and the Kangoo van make driving entirely routine and comfortable.
One notable difference from the Renault car range is the absence of a regenerative braking selector in the Trafic. In the Kangoo and Renault electric cars, this is accessed using the gear selector. For the Trafic, regenerative braking is incorporated into the braking system, activating when the brake pedal is pressed. It removes some of the fidelity available in the Trafic’s smaller siblings and is especially missed in urban areas. Renault has indicated that if there is sufficient customer demand, they may reconsider and offer a system similar to that found in the Kangoo.
The cab and dashboard are very similar to the diesel-powered Trafic variants, with plenty of storage space, including large door pockets, a glovebox, various storage spaces around the dashboard, and under the double passenger seat. The middle seat back also folds flat on the seat cushion to provide a tabletop. Again, it’s familiar, predictable, and comfortable — all good qualities to have when facing new and sometimes untrusted technology.
Which sums up the Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric. It offers a well-executed electric conversion of a familiar medium van, providing a competitive driving range and maintaining the familiarity of the Trafic range.
