Renault Kangoo E-TECH electric (2011-2021) range, battery & charging

Renault has developed its battery technology over the years, so while the original Kangoo Z.E. that launched in 2011 had an official range of 110 miles, the updated Kangoo E-TECH boasts an official figure of 143 miles – although even Renault admits 124 is more realistic in real-world use.

The Kangoo has a 33kWh battery pack under the load area. This is the same physical size as the original 22kWh battery, because Renault has improved the energy density of the cells, so it doesn’t reduce load volume. The battery is connected to the 60bhp electric motor under the bonnet that drives the front wheels, while the sole charging socket for the battery is located in the nose, behind the Renault badge.

Renault Kangoo E-TECH electric range

Renault quotes an official driving range of 124 miles for the Kangoo E-TECH based on standardised testing, but is honest about the practicalities of electric-vehicle range: it has a range calculator on its website where you can change driving parameters, including temperature, payload and average speed, to produce different driving distances. In our experience, you can easily get 125 miles out of a charge in normal summer driving, without having to resort to the ‘Eco’ button to save energy.

Charge time

As there’s just a single charging socket for the Kangoo E-TECH, you’re limited as to how quickly you can top the batteries up. Unlike sister brand Nissan, Renault doesn’t equip the Kangoo with a high-voltage CHAdeMO socket. So the fastest charging you’re going to get is from a public charging point with a power supply in excess of 7kW. It takes six hours to charge a flat battery there – the same amount of time if you plug into a higher-voltage 22 or 43kW supply – as the on-board charger is the limiting factor. As for home charging, a 3.7kW supply can charge the Kangoo in 11 hours from flat.