Renault Group is using the new FlexEVan platform that Renault developed with its partners in Flexis to build the electric van Estafette.
This is the vision from Renault of the next dream utility vehicle – 65 years after the Estafette revolutionised the van universe. The specs are based on professionals’ requirements and feedback, and the two main goals are keeping drivers and goods safe, and keeping loading and unloading swift.
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. 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 – declared Philippe Divry, CEO, Flexis SAS
The Estafette’s pioneering legacy
Estafette Concept has much more in common with Renault’s emblematic 1959 van than the jovial round headlamps. They are both radically innovative and practical. The original Estafette was the very first Renault brand vehicle to fit the entire powertrain – engine and transmission – at the front to free up all the space behind for loading. The new Estafette 4.0 is the first to feature the FlexEVan electric platform, which is poised to upend the utility vehicle landscape. They were both designed to make life easier for delivery drivers, tradespeople and retailers, and are both remarkably compact – ample inside yet easy to park. They both have two sliding doors for unparalleled convenience and safety.
And they were both designed for and with professionals. In 1959, Renault launched its Estafette with a France-wide delivery tournament. Estafette Concept will become a production van in two years’ time.
The Estafette Concept is Renault Group’s first vehicle built around an SDV (Software-Defined Vehicle) electronic architecture. It is opening the door to the next generation of electric utility vehicles, which will be intelligent, scalable and modular. This SDV architecture was developed by Ampere, Renault Group’s pure-player specialist in intelligent electric vehicles, is directly connected to the cloud, and plays an essential role in increasing the vehicle’s operational and cost efficiency. It links customers to new services, updates the vehicle throughout its life cycle, learns about the user’s habits and contributes to reducing cost in use by about 30%.
Modular
SDV technology is especially helpful in utility vehicles because it provides a variety of new possibilities for personalisation – which are in very high demand among professionals. It also enables customers to add high-efficiency power outlets, which are essential for a number of conversions (to add a refrigerated compartment or special lighting in a work area, for example). And you won’t need any additional fuses: the built-in panel contains three high-intensity outlets, and is the only interface you need to securely power all the new electrical appliances associated with the conversion.
The van’s SDV technology also adapts to the ecosystems in all the management infrastructures currently used by fleets. And, depending on the type of conversion, the dashboard can seamlessly display any associated information (the temperature in the refrigerate compartment, for instance).
Intelligent
SDV architecture essentially turns a vehicle’s electric and electronic wiring into a smart system, including high-performance computers and new connected devices, which in turn instantly supply the van’s computers with massive amounts of data.
Scalable
The experience in an SDV is like the one at home when we upgraded from a dial-up modem to ADSL then fibre optics: the amount of data we can download is considerably higher. An SDV can download and integrate substantial updates, upgrades and new content throughout its life cycle. To scale up, the software needs to be separate from the hardware, and you need the software that will last the longest. And, again, the system is a lot like a home connection: you need to be able to increase the platform’s memory and performance.
Open software also helps to improve electricity management, so it is making electric vehicles ever more efficient and smarter. With updates, SDVs can also adapt to the customer’s preferences and get better throughout their life. And the automotive sector is constantly enhancing safety (for drivers, passengers and people around the vehicle) as much as security (to protect onboard systems from malware).
Source: Renault Group
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