Let’s be brutally honest: vans have never been lookers. They’re the dependable uncle at a wedding – does the job, carries the crates, but you wouldn’t take one out for dinner. Then Renault unleashes the Trafic E-Tech and suddenly the game changes. This isn’t some timid green gesture; it’s a proper statement: up to 450 km of real-world range, 800-volt architecture, and the quiet satisfaction of never having to smell diesel again.
It comes in two sensible lengths – L1 at 4.87 m and L2 at 5.27 m – both exactly 1.90 m tall and 1.92 m wide, which means it slips into underground car parks without scraping its roof or your nerves. Load volume goes up to 5.8 cubic metres on the long one; it swallows Euro pallets like they’re crisps. Turning circle? A ridiculous 10.3 metres. That’s less than a Clio. You can spin it around in a loading bay without swearing loud enough to wake the security guard.
Visually, it’s sharp without showing off. A full-width light bar joins the new Renault diamond to the daytime running lights, the headlights hide like they’re embarrassed to be noticed, and the windscreen flows into the side glass as if the whole front is wearing a fighter pilot visor. Black recycled-plastic trim, laser-etched patterns, and at the back a 3D light signature with twin vertical bars – the first time Renault has bothered to make the rear of a van look interesting. It’s a workhorse that’s learned how to dress properly.
Under the floor lies the good stuff. Two battery choices: an NMC pack for the long-haul crowd giving that 450 km headline figure, and an LFP version (no cobalt, no nickel) for city warriors with around 350 km. Both built in Europe, assembled in France, and – crucially – running 800 volts. That means 15–80 % charge in twenty minutes, enough for another 260 km while you finish a coffee. Twenty minutes. Not an hour spent inhaling fumes next to a pump that looks older than your dad.
Drive it and it’s pure calm. Instant torque that shoves you forward without drama, zero vibration, and silence so complete you can hear the sat-nav lady blush. Perfect for creeping up to a customer’s door at dawn without announcing your arrival to the entire street.
For anyone who earns a living with a van – builder, courier, plumber, spark – this is the moment everything shifts. Same load space, same manoeuvrability, but no tailpipe, less maintenance, and running costs that plummet. You get to feel smug and save money at the same time, which is a rare and delicious combination.
In short, the Trafic E-Tech proves that a van can be practical, profitable and actually rather desirable. Diesel has had its day. Electricity just took the wheel, and it feels bloody good.
Ready to make the switch? Head over to our marketplace dedicated to 100 % electric vehicles where you can browse and buy without hassle. The future is waiting at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/.
