Electric vans sales have been at a slow trickle for the past few years but the Renault Trafic E-Tech could well be the model to open the flood gates.
That's because its 800V electric architecture will dramatically speeds up charging times, adding around 175 miles in just 20 minutes and finally breaking the psychological barriers that many van buyers seem to have about charging.
Although the first of its kind, there’s more to the Trafic E-Tech than its charging times, though. It’s Renault’s first software defined vehicle and the first skateboard chassis model, enabling it to not only be updated over the air with improvements but also to be moulded into any number of variants. When it was first revealed, it was launched with a chassis cab sibling as well as the Estafette, a walk-through cargo van, to show the flexibility of the underlying platform.
Although tested here in this early Trafic E-Tech review of a prototype model as the panel van, there's plenty more to come from Renault and the fully electric SDV platform underneath.
Power comes from a 150kW electric motor, producing 345Nm of torque. It’s paired to either a 59kWh lithium iron phosphate battery or an 81kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery giving a claimed WLTP range of 292 miles. Renault even goes so far as to quote a 429 mile range for city driving thanks to an average energy consumption of 17.2kWh/100km.
Practical aspects include short and long wheelbase models with a load capacity of 5.1 m3 for the L1 model and a maximum load length of 4.87m, and a 5.8 m3 capacity and 5.27m load length for the L2.
It’s been designed for the city as well, with a 1.9m height to ensure it can fit in the majority of car parks, and short overhangs to give it a 10.3m turning circle which Renault says is comparable to a Clio.
There’s up to 1300kg of payload capacity and it can even tow up to 2 tonnes. On paper, it’s quite the package but it also manages to live up to its billing in the real world.
Keep in mind that we're the only people to have a drive of this early prototype van, and although out on the open road there wasn't a lot we were able to do with it in the time allotted.
However, the pre-production model that we drove did immediately show just how far the latest Trafic has advanced not only Renault’s own range, but also the medium van sector.
The previous Trafic E-Tech was a conversion of its diesel sibling, whereas this is a ground-up redesign. Carrying over the name almost doesn't do it justice. This is an entirely different proposition and a serious improvement.
Read our Best medium electric vans guide
The Trafic E-Tech's manoeuvrability is the first noticeable aspect, with its very light steering and tight turning circle allowing you to easily get out of a parking spot.
Out on the road that light steering doesn’t feel artificial and overly assisted, but instead provides a strong sense of connection to the road as well as responsiveness. The overall ride quality is also extremely high thanks to multi-link suspension and there’ s an overriding feeling of calmness in the cabin due not only to the on road manners but also the high levels of sound deadening and almost zero levels of wind noise.
As a forward-looking tech-focused van, there’s understandably a good level of equipment onboard too, with excellent high-definition cameras which are particularly useful for the 360-degree surround view.
The more analogue visibility is slightly less successful, largely due to the double A-pillar. The mirrors feel unusually close and the second part of the pillar unnecessarily thick.
It’s also the area where we’d like to see a proper bit of storage. Something like a cup holder wouldn't go amiss, as otherwise they are inconveniently located at floor level in the centre console. It can, however, be resolved with clever interchangeable add-on accessories, but we’ll have to reserve judgement on that when we see them.
That aside, the cabin feels otherwise quite spacious with well integrated screens of an impressively high resolution.
Performance is as you would expect of a van with the equivalent of 200hp, giving you plenty of oomph off the line and what feels like ample torque to move its full weight about.
You're going to have to wait a little longer, perhaps until the early part of 2027 for the right-hand-drive UK versions, but there’s definitely a lot to like about the Trafic E-Tech, and if you're thinking about getting a new van between now and then, this is definitely one for the shopping list.
We'll be able to tell you much much more after a more comprehensive drive later this year. For now, though, we'll simply say that the Trafic E-Tech is a fitting addition to the line-up and another feather in the renaissance of Renault products which includes the retro Renault 4 and cute Renault 5, not to mention its immensely successful updates to Kangoo and Master vans.
The new Trafic E-Tech takes a worthy position in Renault’s impressive portfolio, and sits right at the top of the new electric medium van pecking order.
