Renault Trafic E-Tech review

With the announcement earlier this month of its new Master, Renault’s electrification of its van range is continuing at speed.

But until this all-new model is launched next year, its newest zero-emission van will be the Trafic E-Tech, as tested here.

Available to be pre-order now (UK specification and pricing to be confirmed) with first deliveries from May 2024, the E-Tech is based on the popular medium van which was revised a couple of years ago.

It features a 52kWh battery which provides a WLTP range of up to 186 miles, which Renault says can be increased by using either eco or long-range mode, which limits speed to 56mph but stretches range to around 200 miles.

Charging options from 15% to 80% capacity range from 12 hours with a 3.7kW wallbox down to one hour via a 50kW DC charger.

In between, a 22kW AC charger will deliver an 80% charge in one hour 25 minutes and a 32-mile boost in 25 minutes.

The MyRenault App allows drivers to access a number of functions, including scheduling battery charging, monitoring the battery’s state of charge remotely and pre-heating the cab.

Trafic E-Tech is available in a wider range of configurations: three panel van versions (L1H1, L2H1, L2H2), two crew van versions (L1H1 and L2H1) and a platform cab version.

L1 is 5.08m long, with L2 measuring in at 5.48m. H1 is 1.97m tall, with H2 2.5m high. Load space spans from 5.8cu m to 8.9cu m.

Courtesy of a trap door in the bulkhead, the maximum load length the E-Tech range can accommodate is 4.15m. Maximum payload is 1,100kg.

We tested the L2H1 Trafic E-Tech, which for the test had a 300kg load in the back. It comes with a 950kg payload, a towing capacity of 920kg and a load space of 7.8cu m.

The load bay can be accessed by twin rear doors and side doors on both flanks of the van.

As with most fully-electric vans, the Trafic E-Tech, which has a 122PS motor delivering 245Nm of torque, pulls away quickly from a standstill and offers a smooth and refined driving experience whether in an urban area or out on the open road.

It offers a 0-62mph time of 13.6 seconds, with a maximum speed of 55mph.

Visibility is also good from the driver’s seat: front and rear parking sensors plus a good rear-view camera make manoeuvres in tight spaces more straightforward, while the van also comes with Renault’s familiar bind spot mirror in the passenger sun visor.

Drivers who have been in the diesel Trafic should quickly feel at home – Trafic E-Tech still features a physical handbrake and the drive mode selector is where the gearstick on the diesel vans is; Renault says this has been done so people switching to an electric van for the first time are immediately comfortable in their new surroundings.

Just one level of regenerative braking is available, which Renault says has been optimised to most use cases, while the cabin – as with its diesel counterpart – offers decent storage provision, including a non-lockable glove box, a shelf on the dashboard with a pair of USB plugs and decent-sized door bins. Stowage space can also be found underneath the middle seat.