Renault Kangoo E-Tech EV people-mover revealed

Renault has revealed the people-mover version of its new Kangoo E-Tech Electric, ahead of its in-person premiere at next week’s Paris motor show.

Naturally, it has much in common with the Renault Kangoo E-Tech EV van which will arrive in Australia in early 2023, but sacrifices load space in favour of seats.

Power comes from a liquid-cooled 45kWh lithium-ion battery made from eight modules that are theoretically easier to repair or replace. Renault claims a WLTP driving range of 285km.

This powers a 90kW and 245Nm drive motor, offering up three levels of regenerative braking when off the accelerator: called Sailing, Drive and Brake.

Renault says a regular 7.4kWh home AC wallbox will charge the Kangoo E-Tech from 15 per cent to 100 per cent in about six hours. It can pull down up to 80kW at a DC charger, gaining 170km range in 30 minutes.

You can monitor battery health and schedule charging via the Renault app, and the charge port is in the front grille.

The interior features a 10-inch instrument cluster and a large centre tablet, while its van origins mean there’s copious storage including an opening console above the driver’s instruments. The dark brushed wood finish adds a little lustre.

The dual-zone air conditioning is powered by an energy-saving heat pump. This system adds up to 30km of range, Renault claims.

The back seating row (it’s a five-seater rather than a seven) has a 60:40 split that slides and tilts, taking the boot from a large 850 litres through to 2500L. There’s also a drawer with 49L of added space, and a storage box for the cables.

Renault adds you can adjust the roof bars without tools.

It’s not yet clear if Renault will bring the Kangoo EV people-mover to Australia, though these sort of vehicles tend to be slow sellers here, with buying tending towards SUVs.

There are a growing number of electric people-movers arriving though, such as the larger Mercedes-Benz eVito and LDV MIFA 9.