Renault has revealed a commercialised version of the electric R4 E-Tech hatchback, which will revive memories of the original ‘Fourgonette’ Renault 4 van version from the 1960s.
Will this new EV van come to Ireland?
It’s not fully confirmed just yet, but the likely answer is yes. This N1 version, which Renault has shown off for the European market, might be imported directly, or Renault might decide to convert cars here locally. Either way, it’s reasonably certain that a commercial electric Renault 4 will be on sale in Ireland soon.
What kind of range does the R4 van have?
The N1 version of the Renault 4 E-Tech has the same range as the passenger version, with the basic 40kWh battery offering a WLTP range of up to 308km, and using a 120hp electric motor, while the 52kWh battery model gets a 150hp motor and a range of up to 409km.
Both include an 11 kW AC bi-directional charger along with a DC charger of 80 kW for the 40 kWh battery and 100 kW for the 52 kWh battery. Charging the battery from 15 per cent to 80 per cent with the 11 kW AC charger takes 3 hrs 13 minutes for the 52 kWh battery and 2 hrs 37 minutes for the 40 kWh battery. With the DC fast charger, it takes just 30 minutes to charge either battery from 15 per cent to 80 per cent.
How much will it carry?
The commercial version shown so far has been designed to N1 standards by Qstomize at the Manufacture Ampere in Maubeuge (ElectriCity), where passenger models of the Renault 4 E-Tech electric are built. This N1 model can carry up to 375kg of payload, in a space that holds up to 1,045 litres, including 55 litres of underfloor storage. The load area is 1.2 metres long.
The cargo area can be optionally closed off from the front seats with a metal mesh bulkhead, and depending on the market, Renault will offer such accessories as a luggage cover, an anti-slip mat, or a function to deactivate the opening of the rear windows and doors.
How much will it cost?
That’s still TBC for Ireland, but the European cost for now is €29,300 plus VAT. Interestingly, Renault Ireland has previously confirmed to us that the paint shop in the factory in Maubeuge is hugely flexible, and can handle low-volume paint options, which means that, in theory, you could recreate the classic Renault 4 P&T van colours of white and orange if you asked really, really nicely…
For more information on the passenger version of the Renault 4 E-Tech, check out the in-depth test drive on our sister site, CompleteCar.ie, right here.