Renault Estafette revives old name for new electric concept
State-of-the-art van aims to revolutionise the compact segment with space, payload and agilityThe Renault Estafette nameplate has been revived by the French van-maker for a radical, innovative and state-of-the-art compact delivery van concept that previews a production vehicle due in 2026.
Created in partnership with Volvo under the Flexis joint-venture, the new Renault Estafette mimics the 1959 original's round headlamps and curvy styling.
Meanwhile the grey and yellow livery has supposedly been employed to brighten up European streets.
Measuring up at 4870mm, the Estafette is surprisingly long for a compact van and at 2590mm it’s also very tall. But crucially, its turning circle is on par with small superminis like the Renault Clio.
The reason for its height, meanwhile, is to allow the driver to walk from the cockpit through to the cargo bay without bending down.
In fact, the French firm claims the Estafette was designed around feedback from professional drivers with the aim of streamlining operations and enhancing safety.
Based on an all-new FlexEVan platform, full details of the all-electric Estafette have yet to be revealed. But we already know it has been created alongside a new dedicated 800-volt electrical architecture to ensure it will outclass its rivals when it comes to charging.
Once the production Estafette arrives it will be available with the choice of two batteries and multiple body styles.
Flexis models will be manufactured at Renault’s Sandouville plant in northern France that currently builds the Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar vans sold in Europe.
Built to be a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), Renault has also announced that the Google Automotive-powered operating system will allow fleet operators to integrate their own software into the van via the Google Cloud.
Real-time updates and predictive maintenance will help reduce costs by about 30 per cent compared to traditional vans.
"We are very excited about helping to bring to life the vision that Renault Group and its partners Volvo Group and CMA CGM Group have come up with to revolutionise urban logistics, to make operations more sustainable, safer, city-friendlier, driver-friendlier and neighbour-friendlier,” said Philippe Divry CEO of Flexis.
"Estafette Concept is the first example of what electric utility vehicles will look like tomorrow: purpose-engineered to drive in cities, compact, connected and built for fully sustainable delivery services."
In Australia the production Renault Estafette could replace both the current Kangoo E-Tech and the mid-size Trafic when it arrives in 2026, with a long wheelbase version going head-to-head with the Ford E-Transit.
Back in April when the joint-venture with Volvo and other partners was announced Renault's Luca De Meo said the new family of electric vans would revolutionise the delivery van segment.
"This is the Tesla of the commercial vehicle in a way. That's the way you have to see it."
As part of the deal to create Flexis, French shipping firm CMA GGM will invest €120 million ($A200m) while the Renault Group and Volvo Group will both kick in €300 million ($A500m) each over the next three years.
Motivating the new partnership were analysts prediction that sales of all-electric vans in Europe will grow 40 per cent each year until 2030.
Related: Renault and Volvo ‘Flex’ EV van concept revealed
Related: Renault and Volvo to deliver pioneering Flexis EV vans
Related: Renault Trafic 2022 Review
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