The market for electric commercial vehicles has been seeing steady growth here in Singapore: According to the LTA, the total number of electric goods vehicles at the end of 2023 totalled 3,338. That's significantly larger than the 1,894 electric goods vehicles that plied our roads in 2022, and quite a fair bit more than the fleet of 387 vehicles present if we look back one additional year.
There's plenty of opportunity then, for this new Renault Kangoo E-Tech to carve itself some market share here, even if it must go up against the mighty assortment of vehicles that came from the former Groupe PSA that includes the compact Peugeot e-Partner and Citroen e-Berlingo, or the larger Opel Vivaro-e and Citroen e-Dispatch.
And this Renault Kangoo E-Tech is well placed to find a niche here. Look at its 3,100mm total wheelbase, or at its 4,300-litre loading volume, and you'll find that it nicely splits the size and cargo carrying capacity difference between the two models each offered by the brands of the French conglomeration.
Further pushing this Kangoo's appeal is the fact that it comes with a fair bit of eye candy. Notice, for example, the liberal use of chrome-finished touches on its front grille. Meanwhile, the rear of the Kangoo gets a nice grey trim that sits below its black plastic bumper.
I get that looks will hardly matter for those shopping for a workhorse. But think about this: If you're going to plaster your brand atop the body of a van that won't get covered in diesel soot, wouldn't you want your company name and logo to appear atop something that looks the part?
And the Renault Kangoo E-Tech continues to offer some visual appeal (by the standards of a commercial vehicle, that is), even after you step into its cabin.
The seats here get some snazzy yellow accents, and the 8.0-inch infotainment system wouldn't look out of place in a car from just a generation ago. Did I mention you even get the option to customise the layout of its homepage?
And all the usual accoutrements you'd expect from a work-ready commercial vehicle are all here: There's plenty of cubby holes for all the equipment you'd want to keep on hand when heading to a jobsite; extra USB ports are on offer in the covered compartment ahead of the instrument cluster, so you can keep your electronics charged and away from jealous eyes; and there's even a wireless charging port right at the bottom of the front fascia.
Turn that key and push that gear lever into 'D' and the Renault Kangoo E-Tech will also reveal itself quite the capable travel companion.
It's responsive as most electric commercial vehicles are, which should give you a bit of an edge over your diesel-powered brethren when jostling for gaps on the road: An added comfort, no doubt, for those in trades that require the transport of some heavy tools.
And while you only get an 'Eco' drive mode atop the default here (rival products offer three different drive modes), push that same lever into 'B' and you'll be able to quickly switch between three different levels of regenerative braking simply by punching the lever forwards or pulling it back. I found this to be a great addition for those long journeys as you'd be able to pass the time fantasising you're in one of those trucks that take on the Dakar Rally whenever the road presents you with some uphill/downhill sections.
Adding to this fantasy is the fact that the Kangoo is not as softly sprung as the products now offered by the Stellantis Group. Having said that, I think most will find the fact that the Kangoo permits quite a fair bit of tyre noise into its cabin once you're at speed even more of a bother.
But here's where I think the Renault Kangoo E-Tech can claw back some points amongst drivers and fleet managers alike: My three days with the van yielded an energy consumption of just 6.3km/kWh, placing it a touch more efficient than the offerings from the Stellantis Group when we tested them.
You might also want to consider the fact that this Renault Kangoo can also be charged up at a maximum power of 22kW at an alternating current charger - no small feat when you consider how even most passenger vehicles will only reach 11kW.
At $53,800, this Renault Kangoo E-Tech is asking for a bit more than the $49,500 Opel Combo-e (which comes with an inferior infotainment screen, mind) but is competitively priced against the $55,999 Citroen e-Berlingo and $53,888 Peugeot e-Partner (all prices before COE and as of 3 September 2024).
But with its 4,300-litre cargo space beating the cargo carrying capacity of its aforementioned rivals, it should have little issue muscling its way into the hearts and minds of local fleet managers and drivers alike. Be prepared to see more examples plying our roads as Singapore's electric commercial vehicle population continues to expand.
Looking for a commercial vehicle for your business? You might be interested in these articles:
The Ford Ranger comes with a premium cabin and a capable diesel engine
But maybe this diesel-powered Peugeot partner might be closer to what you're looking for
Or you might want to read up on the new Opel Vivaro
Perhaps this new Volkswagen Transporter might be more interesting to you?
