2023 Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric van: will it come to Australia to rival the Ford E-Transit Custom?

The 2023 Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric has been revealed in Europe, as the French car maker’s third zero-emissions delivery van.

Unveiled at the Hannover commercial-vehicle motor show in Germany, the Trafic E-Tech Electric will slot into Renault’s existing electric van line-up between the smaller Kangoo E-Tech Electric and larger Master E-Tech Electric.

“We are excited about our new electrified van range,” an Ateco spokesperson told Drive. “For Australia, this starts with the all-new a Kangoo E-Tech which arrives in early 2023.”

The Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric is powered by a single motor which produces 90kW – identical to the upcoming Kangoo E-Tech Electric and a 33kW increase compared to the Master E-Tech Electric.

However, the electric Renault Trafic develops 35kW less than the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine fitted to Australian-delivered models.

Renault claims the Trafic E-Tech Electric’s 52kWh battery pack can achieve a driving range of up to 240km on the WLTP cycle when unladen – roughly 40km more than the Master which utilises the same battery.

Renault says the electric van can support 7kW single-phase AC charging, 22kW AC charging at public stations and up to 50kW using a DC fast charger.

The Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric’s exterior dimensions are unchanged from its diesel-powered counterpart, with customers given the choice of short- and long-wheelbase body styles.

While the short-wheelbase Trafic measures 5080mm in length, the long-wheelbase adds 400mm of length between the front and the rear wheels. Renault also offers two roof-height options (1967mm or 2498mm), varying the Trafic E-Tech Electric’s cargo volume capacity between 5.8 to 8.9 cubic metres.

According to Renault, the electric Trafic is capable of carrying up to 1100kg, with a towing capacity of 750kg, though it has not indicated how much these loads would blunt performance or driving range.

In Europe, customers can opt to purchase the Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric as a cab-floor model, allowing them to customise the van’s rear storage solutions.

A passenger variant of the Renault Trafic E-Tech Electric is expected to follow the commercial delivery van, although timing is yet to be announced.