News Analysis CV Show
LCV INDUSTRY TAKES A STAND
Expectations were high as the 2024 Commercial Vehicle Show opened its doors to industry visitors on 23 April with around 300 exhibitors displaying their wares on stands in Halls 4 and 5 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Steve Banner and James Dallas review the highlights.
RENAULT GIVES UK DEBUT TO MASTER E-TECH AT CV SHOW
LOCKS 4 VANS PRESENTS BATTERY GUARD
Locks 4 Vans commercial director, Terry Rayner. He says it could become as big a problem as catalytic convertor theft has been in recent years, as light commercial owners switch to zero- emission technology. In response, the company has come up with a battery guard, which was on display at the exhibition on an Iveco eDaily. “It’s anti-cut and anti-drill,” Rayner said.
B
enault gave a UK debut to its Master E-Tech at the Commercial Vehicle Show as the large van took pride of place alongside the medium-sized Trafic E-Tech and compact Kangoo E-Tech in an all- electric line up. The Master E-Tech, which Renault says will go on sale “before the summer”, will be offered with a 143hp electric motor and two batteries, at 40kWh and 87kWh. The larger battery will give the van a range of more than 285 miles, according to Renault, which is significantly higher than the maximum 197 miles quoted for the Ford E-Transit and a more modest increase compared to the 261 miles Stellantis claims for its
R 12 WhatVan? May 2024
stable of large electric vans from Citroen, Fiat Professional, Peugeot and Vauxhall. Renault claims a 20% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency compared to the previous Master plus better battery regeneration allowed it to extend the van’s range and set a maximum payload of 1,625kg.
Zakaria Zeghari, Renault’s vice president Global Sales and Marketing for light commercial vehicles, said: “We need less battery capacity than our competitors, the cost of usage will be lower and we have also preserved the payload.”
The Master will also be available with a 2.0-litre diesel engine with outputs of 130hp, 150hp and 170hp.
Renault is producing both electric and diesel versions on the same platform with both having the same dimensions and loading capabilities, according to Zeghari. He claims this will make it easier for fleet managers to transition from ICE to BEVs. “It’s exactly the same equipment in
every van,” said Zeghari, who added that the new Master will be available in “40 silhouettes” (conversions). He said seven out of 10 Master vans sold are converted in some way. In the UK, the Master will be marketed through the brand’s 45 LCV- specialist Pro-Plus dealerships. Renault was exhibiting at the CV Show for the first time since the
The business has also developed an electric slamlock for the new Ford Transit Custom. Doors fitted with it are unlocked using a handheld fob, which allows up to four doors to be controlled.
Covid-19 pandemic.
With a new hydrogen Master due to launch in 2025, as a result of Renault’s partnership with Plug Power, to complement the electric and diesel vans, Zeghari said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to present the new Master and [talk about] our multi-energy powertrains. The idea is not to have one single energy.” Zeghari acknowledged that accelerating the implementation of the charging infrastructure would “help customers massively” in transitioning to BEVs but added: “With electrification, there is no way back.”
www.whatvan.co.uk
usinesses that opt for electric vans run the risk that their batteries will be stolen, warns
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
