Renault Group is ringing in a new era of all-electric commercial vehicles, which will begin next year. The French automaker revealed the names and styles of three new all-electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs) that will feature a new skateboard platform and plenty of modularity for future fleets.
Renault is a veteran French automaker founded 125 years ago that has embraced multiple routes of electrification through its “E-Tech” program in recent years. We’ve seen several passenger and commercial EVs emerge from the company’s headquarters outside of Paris, including an R4 SUV and 600 km range semi-truck last fall and, most recently, an ultra-efficient concept called the Filante.
I’m still waiting for Renault to bring its electric version of its R17 restomod vehicle to market, but I’m sure I’m just dreaming. In the meantime, Renault has unveiled three new electric commercial vehicles under its E-Tech line, which will launch next year.
Renault reveals three new E-Tech electric vehicles
Per a press release from Renault Group, its incoming range of light commercial vehicles will “redefine” the market segment as part of a full range of EVs that are flexible and scalable. The three new electric vehicle models were developed to meet a full range of business use cases as part of a collaboration with Flexis – an independent company founded by Renault Group, Volvo Group and CMA CGM Group.
These three initial models, named the Estafette, Goelette, and Trafic, will sit atop modular skateboard architecture developed by Ampere. The Estafette E-Tech(seen above) is a modern-day reboot of Renault’s 1960s van, reimagined as an electric vehicle for urban logistics and last-mile deliveries.
The Goellete E-Tech, seen below, is an electric version of an LCV that was built for ten years beginning in 1956. Its modern architecture enables three variants for commercial customers – chassis cab, box, and tipper.
Last but not least is the Renault Trafic E-Tech electric, the fourth–generation model of a vehicle that was first built in 1980 and has had 2.5 million units assembled since.
Per Renault, this entire new range of commercial electric vehicles will be built at the automaker’s Sandouville plant in France, and the plan is to hit the market sometime in 2026. Additional details have been promised in the coming months.