The market for electric vans is picking up speed. Renault recently launched the new Master Z.E., its own electric van. With a gross vehicle weight of 3.1 tons, a payload of up to 1,377 kilograms depending on the body and a range of up to 200 kilometers, the battery-electric version of the successful van is aimed primarily at inner-city delivery traffic directly to the customer. The French consider themselves well equipped for the so-called transports on the “last mile”.

Threatening driving bans or access restrictions in the cities are therefore not to be feared, thanks to the locally emission-free drive system. Renault has previously tested the Master Z.E. in field trials with major customers. In addition to vehicle tests for the integration of electric vehicles into the fleets of tradesmen, the focus is also always on the development of charging infrastructure and range analyses.

The electric van will then start in Germany with an entry-level price starting at 59,900 euros, including the L1H1 battery for the panel van. The technical basis for the eTransporter is the master with internal combustion engine and front-wheel drive in the class from 2.8 to 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. Since the beginning of 2010, the French have sold more than 475,000 copies of this current series throughout Europe.

The Master Z.E. has the new Z.E. 33 lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 33 kWh, which is located under the cabin floor. This saves space and allows the same loading capacities as with the combustion models. The battery supplies energy for the 57 kW/76 hp R75 electric motor, which is derived from the Renault ZOE engine. The electrical unit built at the Cléon site gives the Master Z.E. a top speed of 100 km/h. That doesn’t sound like much at first, but can be limited to 90 km/h for fleet operators. The electronic speed limit enables fleet managers to reduce energy consumption and increase range.

Highly efficient electric motor for practical range

The unit was developed completely in-house by Renault. It mobilizes a maximum torque of 225 Nm, which is already available when starting up. The acceleration from a standstill is certainly not comparable to the driving experience in a BMW i3 or Tesla. But an eTransporter in commercial use does not have this objective either.

The range of the Master Z.E. with fully charged battery in the New European Driving Cycle NEDC is 200 kilometres. This distance meets the mobility needs of most customers. According to the press release, Renault has found that 87 percent of all daily car journeys in Europe are less than 60 kilometres. In the field tests with customers, it is now important to find out whether this range also applies equally to trips in rather flat Paris or in hilly Stuttgart.

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Comfortable charging system

Renault is equipping the Master Z.E. with a new charging system that allows the van to be charged to full capacity in around six hours on a 7.4 kW (single-phase 32 A) wall box. This means that the vehicle can be supplied with energy overnight conveniently and inexpensively. At moderate temperatures, for example, the Master Z.E. can store about 25 kilometres more range in one hour during the driver’s lunch break. Access to the power connection for the charging process is located on the right-hand side of the vehicle behind the cabin, where the tank filler neck is located on the master with combustion engine.

Renault equips the Master Z.E. as standard with a charging cable that is equally suitable for the wall box and public charging points. In exceptional cases, a cable is available to connect the electric vehicle to regular 230-volt household sockets. In addition, kinetic energy is recovered by recuperation during braking and pushing and fed into the battery.

The view of the neatly large touch screen (7-inch =18-cm) and the infotainment system behind it becomes really exciting. Renault calls this R-LINK Evolution and offers various services to support electric mobility suitable for everyday use. Online connection, touch screen monitor and smartphone integration via Android Auto are available. In addition to the basic functions of radio, telephony, navigation, multimedia and vehicle information, applications can be downloaded from the Renault R-LINK Internet Store. One of the most important functions for electric drivers is already pre-installed. An app with tips for a particularly economical driving style. The driver can also use the system to program the type and time of loading and set it to
Access emails. Instead of the monitor, the system can be controlled by steering wheel remote control or speech recognition.

The vehicles themselves arrive in three different lengths and two heights. Depending on the version, the Master Z.E. van then has a loading volume of 8.0 to 13 cubic metres. Intelligent detailed solutions such as wide-angle rear-view mirrors or rear view cameras support the driver in everyday manoeuvring. Numerous details such as the swivelling work surface, which is revealed by folding down the central passenger seat backrest, and the extendable and foldable clipboard in the centre console transform the Master Z.E. into a modern office on wheels with plenty of storage space.

Master Z.E. operators can also benefit from the new fleet management system Renault EASY CONNECT. A telematics module networked with the vehicle electronics constantly informs the fleet management about range, current vehicle location, power consumption, tire pressure and technical malfunctions. It also provides information on the mileage and the duration until the next service interval.

Image rights: Renault Group