Renault has introduced a series of updates to its Master E-Tech Electric van, including a revised battery chemistry, expanded charging capabilities and additional vehicle variants aimed at commercial operators.
The most significant technical change is an updated 87kWh battery that retains the same capacity while using a new medium-nickel cell chemistry. Renault said the revised battery is designed to improve thermal management and charging performance without affecting the vehicle’s driving range.
The battery cells are supplied by LG Energy Solution, while assembly of the 87kWh battery takes place at Renault’s Batilly manufacturing plant.
The Master E-Tech Electric continues to feature a bidirectional 11kW AC onboard charger as standard. Renault has also introduced an optional 22kW bidirectional charger, with Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capability expected to become available in selected markets by the end of the year.
New Variant for Urban Operations
Renault has expanded the availability of its smaller 40kWh battery by offering it in the Chassis-Cab version for the first time. The company said the configuration is intended for municipalities and other customers operating primarily in urban environments.
The Chassis-Cab model also includes a 220-volt power outlet delivering up to 3.5kW, allowing users to operate or recharge electrical tools directly from the vehicle.
Interior and Safety Enhancements
The updated Master E-Tech Electric features a redesigned centre console intended to improve movement between the cab and cargo area.
Additional equipment includes keyless entry via a keycard, an interior camera for driver fatigue and attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control and a revised digital instrument cluster. Renault has also made an electric parking brake with auto-hold standard across all front-wheel-drive versions.
The manufacturer said it has increased the use of recycled materials inside the vehicle, with the upper dashboard now containing 20% recycled plastic recovered from end-of-life vehicles.
Expanded Conversion Options
Renault is also broadening its “Converted by Renault” programme by adding new factory-built dropside, tipper and high-volume body configurations to better serve a wider range of commercial applications.
The Master E-Tech Electric remains available with either a 40kWh or 87kWh battery and offers a maximum WLTP driving range of up to 448 kilometres, depending on the selected version.
The latest updates build on growing demand for electric commercial vehicles. Earlier this year, the Master E-Tech Electric became the first battery-electric van to join Europcar’s rental fleet, with the company reporting that the initial 20 vehicles deployed at its Dortmund location were immediately leased to customers on one-year contracts.