Full details of the new Renault Master Z.E. have been released ahead of the vehicle going on sale in the Autumn of 2018.
The large van will extend the French brand’s electric commercial offerings to three, sitting in showrooms alongside the Kangoo Z.E. and Twizy Cargo.
New motor and battery technology sees Renault claiming a 74-mile real-world driving range alongside a full charging time of six hours. This the brand says will make the Master Z.E. ideal for use in city centres with stringent emissions regulations.
The motor is the 76hp R75 unit fitted in the Kangoo Z.E. and to versions of the Zoe car not sold in the UK. It includes an Eco mode that extends the battery performance by slowing down acceleration and limiting top speed to 50mph – much more than is likely to be achievable in city centres.
The Master Z.E. will be available in three load lengths and two roof heights. Load spaces will range from eight to 13m3 – identical to the diesel-engined Master due to the battery being concealed under the floor – and payloads from one to 1.1 tonnes, while there will also be two platform cabs.
Connected services will be a major part of the Master Z.E. specification. My Z.E. Connect will allow viewing of the vehicle’s range on a smartphone or computer connected to the internet. Z.E. Trip will locate all the charge points in main European countries on the vehicle’s navigation system.
Not yet rolled out in the UK, Z.E. Pass will offer a single access/payment system to access to most public charge points in Europe from smartphones and tablets.
Alongside these Renault will launch a suite of business fleet management services dubbed Easy Connect. By means of a unit wired into the vehicle’s electronics, fleet managers will be able to remotely access information without having to consult the driver.
Data remotely sent will include the van’s mileage, range, location, fuel consumption, tyre pressure, mileage to the next service and alarms to highlight any technical issues.
Renault says that fleet managers using the system will cut their running costs, lower consumption, manage and plan servicing and generally simplify fleet management. At the same time the system will make it easier to promote eco-responsible driving, reducing CO2 emissions and increasing safety by improving behaviour at the wheel.
Renault will announce prices for the Master Z.E. range in the Spring before opening order books in late summer and making first deliveries before the end of the year.
