Renault Estafette showcases urban delivery EV concept

Renault has revived the Estafette name as a new all-electric delivery van intended for city centre use.

Scheduled to go into production by 2026, the Renault Estafette is the first product from a joint partnership between the French brand, Volvo and CMA CGM Group.

Designed to serve the need for last-mile delivery vehicles that meet tough urban emissions laws but also meet the needs of logistics firms, the Estafette has a similar footprint to the current Kangoo van but the load capacity of the far larger Trafic.

Based on the FlexEVan platform developed by the Flexis partnership, Renault describes the Estafette’s design as ‘Smeg fridge meets plush toy’, with cutesy round headlights inspired by the original 1960s van and unusual dimensions defined by clean, smooth body lines.

Its ‘standing position’ shape is designed to offer maximum carry capacity in a small footprint. The Estafette is 4.87m by 1.92m, roughly the same as the current Kangoo L2, with the turning circle of the Clio supermini. However, at 2.59m tall, it’s almost the height of the Traffic L1H2, and offers a comparable 71.m3 of cargo space.

Rear access is via a roller door, making access in tight spaces easier than traditional hinged doors, and the cab has twin sliding doors that open with a single pull. Renault intends the rear door to be used for loading and the side doors used for unloading. The driver can access the cargo area via a door in the rear of the cab, meaning they don’t need to move around to the rear of the van every time they stop.

The concept also features four fold-up shelves that sit flush with the sides of the vehicle for improved load-carrying flexibility, and multiple high-power outlets that allow users to install demanding hardware such as refrigeration units without complex conversions.

The front cabin features a single swivelling seat on a raised platform with a series of easy-access drawers underneath. The concept also has a series of modular under-dash storage areas and a three-piece windscreen to offer maximum visibility around the van. Two 10-inch vertical screens display the rear views from the outside cameras.

Ahead of the driver is a 7-inch digital instrument display, supplemented by a 12-inch infotainment screen angled towards the driver and a series of ‘widgets’ offering one-touch shortcuts to the driver’s favourite features.

Renault hasn’t given any powertrain details for the new Estafette but said that van will go into production within the next two years, so we’d expect more technical details in the near future.