Renault Zoe Van E-Tech Electric Overview
The Renault Zoe is one of Europe’s most popular electric cars, and for good reason, with a long range, decent charging capability and great design. Now it’s available as a commercial vehicle, the Zoe Van E-Tech Electric.
Renault Zoe Van E-Tech Electric Range
We drove the Renault Zoe Van E-Tech Electric Iconic R110 Z.E. 50 Rapid Charge. You’ll be pleased to hear that this is not all written out on the back so there will still be space for your business name. It has a WLTP range of 384km although this drops significantly in winter to an estimated 241km. An 80kW electric motor puts out up to 108hp and torque of 225Nm.
There’s also an entry-level Play version (from €39,326 before incentives) and another Iconic variant, oddly. The latter has less equipment, weighs 49kg less than the top-of-the-range Zoe Van and gains an extra 19kg in payload to 387kg. It should also travel a little further, with an official range of 394km. It’s a bit cheaper, too.
Renault Zoe Van E-Tech Electric Interior
The interior is very comfortable and well designed and, just for once, it’s not a terrible cliche to say it’s “car-like” because it actually is based on the Zoe car. There’s a modern digital dash, an easy-to-use touchscreen infotainment screen, a nice sense of premium-ness to some of the dials and it all feels less like you are in a van.
Then you look behind you and there’s a big grille and a bulkhead where the rear seats would normally be. These sit at the end of a moulded cargo area surround, which also contains a frame that allows for removable dual covers. Access is via the tailgate or through the two rear doors, both of which operate exactly as in the car. The windows are of course blanked out, so you do have to be conscious of the massive blind spot at intersections, a reminder that you are in a van.
Renault Zoe Van E-Tech Electric Driving Experience
We’re going to use the phrase car-like again because the Zoe Van feels like driving the Zoe car on the road. It’s very comfortable, handles well and has a great turn of speed, making it a zippy little thing in the urban environment where it will be most at home. It has a normal driving mode, or you can switch to Eco if you want to add a bit of range and sacrifice outright performance.
It’s surprisingly comfortable on the open road too, where it cruises along effortlessly, keeping up with other traffic. It’s certainly more fun to drive than most other small urban vans, although the trade-off is obviously the low payload. We didn’t drive it loaded, but the suspension is good and while the steering is a bit light, it’s again great for nipping through streets and parking with ease. With a range of 384km, it’s suitable for multiple city courier deliveries and the like, too.
Renault Zoe Van E-Tech Electric Alternatives
Alternatives are few and far between and, if you really want a small electric cargo carrier, the chances are you might be looking at an electric car with the seats folded down. There are a few options though, including the Nissan Leaf Van with its range of up to 350km, but its payload is only 272kg. The Peugeot e-208 Van is another with a range of up to 340km and a larger maximum payload at 455kg. Otherwise you can move up to a slightly more van-like van with models like the Renault Kango E-Tech, the Nissan e-NV200 or the upcoming new Nissan Townstar.
Renault Zoe Van E-Tech Electric Summary
In summary, the Zoe Van takes everything that’s great about the Zoe car and adds cargo capacity. It’s not cheap, but it’s a practical thing that can certainly do the kind of driving range that most people need to do in a day, whether for local deliveries or travelling further afield.