Renault has revealed further details of the Kangoo Van E-Tech, which arrives in Europe in early 2022 and with up to 186 miles of range.
Built on the same platform as the Nissan Townstar and the Mercedes-Benz eCitan, it’s the replacement to the Kangoo Z.E. and adopts Renault’s new E-Tech electric vehicle branding.
Its 122hp motor provides 245Nm of torque and is offered with an Eco mode that caps the vehicle’s power output and top speed to help optimise the range.
Drivers have a choice of three regenerative braking levels, and an ARB system (Adaptive Regenerative Brake System works alongside the conventional hydraulic braking to maximise the amount of recovered energy regardless of the selected braking option.
The 45kWh lithium-ion battery is located under the vehicle floor, meaning there’s no impact on the cargo area capacity. As a result, the Kangoo Van E-Tech electric mirrors its ICE counterpart on providing storage volume up to 3.9m3 (4.9m3 in the yet-to-be-released longer length Kangoo), 600kg of payload (800kg in the long format), and 1,500kg of towing capacity.
The battery can be charged via a wallbox using the 11kW three-phase chameleon charger fitted as standard, giving a 15-100% charge in 3 hours 50 minutes or less than six hours on a 7.4kW wallbox. A 22kW chameleon charger is available as an option for rapid charging on public terminals. Drivers can also charge at up to 80kW using DC chargers, adding 106 miles of range in 30 minutes.
Drivers can also use the Renault smartphone app or Renault Easy Link multimedia system to access EV-specific 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.
The air conditioning system comes fitted with a heat pump. When paired with the 22kW charger, heat is taken from the air around the vehicle to warm the passenger compartment without using an electrical resistor that reduces range – optimum usage is between -15°C and +15°C.
Equipment on offer includes a heated windscreen, heated front seats and heated steering wheel as optional extras, along with a 10-inch digital instrument panel that displays selected driving mode, electric power management, and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) use.
As with the Kangoo Van with ICE powertrains, the Kangoo Van E-Tech offers the Easy Inside Rack retractable interior gallery, the Renault Easy Link multimedia system with 8.0-inch display, hands-free key card, and automatic parking brake.
It is also available with three front seats with a central folding backrest that turns into a mobile office, well as latest-generation ADAS systems, including Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and the Motorway and Trafic Companion, providing semi-autonomous driving.
The Kangoo Van E-Tech electric will be produced at the Maubeuge factory in northern France and makes its public debut at the Solutrans car show in Lyon from 16 to 20 November.
