Renault and Volvo ‘Flex’ EV van concept revealed

The so-called Software Republique consortium led by Renault and Volvo has unveiled an electric van concept dubbed the U1st Vision (You First Vision) ahead of a new family of EV vans hitting the road from 2026.

At its core is a new electric light commercial vehicle platform known as FlexEVan, which has a self-contained module bolted on top to suit the application – in this case, it’s a mobile health-care facility.

A variety of other companies, including health-related organisations, have joined the Software Republique to develop the modular health ‘pop-up’ that sits on the platform, demonstrating its flexibility.

The body is designed to be “an integrated one-stop mobile service to citizens, wherever they are, for preventive care, and diagnostics and monitoring of diseases”.

Come production, more traditional FlexEVans will be offered, including a blind panel van, step-in van and a box van.

They will be manufactured at Renault’s Sandouville plant in northern France, where the Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar are currently built.

No technical details have been released concerning what will power the new van family, but the basic design and styling cues such as the circular lower lamps and upper interlinked headlights are destined for production.

Other notable elements from the concept include rear-facing cameras instead of traditional door mirrors and aerodynamically-honed wheel caps that will maximise range.

Billed as the Tesla of vans, the Software Republique’s new commercial EV family will feature a dedicated 800-volt electrical skateboard architecture.

High levels of autonomous driving capability are also anticipated, though not until the first vans are well established in the marketplace.

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