Renault Pro+ has announced its range includes
four electric LCVs, starting with the Twizy Cargo and Commercial ZOE, an updated Kango Z.E. and the new Master Z.E.
Renault Adds New Kangoo Z.E. and Master Z.E. Electric
VansThe Kango was available as an EV before, But now, it has a new battery, a
new engine, new fast charger and a heat pump in the air conditioning system,
much like the Zoe.
The battery is the most worthwhile change. The 33
kWh pack that's shared with the Zoe provides a theoretical range of 270 km NEDC
compared with 170 km for Kangoo Z.E. In real use, the
French carmaker says you should expect a very reasonable 200 kilometers between
charges.
Not only will you have to plug in less often, but
you will spend less time doing it thanks to a new-generation 7 kW AC charger. A
full charge takes six hours, while 35 kilometers of range can be added in an
hour-long lunch break. New Kangoo Z.E. is built in France and will go on sale
in Europe from mid-2017.
As for the Master, this much larger electric van is
aimed primarily at fleets running last-mile distribution services in the city,
as well as large municipalities and local government. It too uses the 33 kWh
battery and is fitted with an R75 powertran. The range is down to 200
kilometers on the official NEDC cycle, the same as in the Zoe we tested. That
means you're going to get about 100 kilometers in real life.
The Commercial Zoe is also
new, since the updated version with 400 km range wasn't available until
September 2016. But if you don't mind the cold in your face and want something
almost as small as a scooter, the Twizy should be your top pick.
