Renault Australia, the first automaker to sell an all-electric van in this country, has put that van’s successor into local showrooms, priced from $61,990.

The Renault Kangoo E-Tech is outwardly almost identical to its conventionally-engined sibling, with only a unique grille design and front-mounted charge port providing any great visual separation between the two. Beneath the skin, however, the E-Tech variant is markedly different.

With a liquid-cooled 45kWh battery mounted under its floor, the Kangoo E-Tech offers up a 285km single-charge range on the WLTP cycle, with its single front-mounted electric motor producing 90kW of power and 245Nm of torque. Those are handy increases over that of its predecessor, the Kangoo Z.E, which used a 33kWh battery and had a 200km range, 44kW of power and 225Nm of torque.

The regenerative braking can be set to three different strengths depending on driver preference, with a strong regen mode for heavy traffic, a low regen setting for steady-state driving like on a motorway, and an intermediate setting that mimics the driving feel of a combustion engine. In terms of charging, the Kangoo E-Tech can be charged either by the standard 22kW AC charger or an optional 80kW DC fast charger, the latter of which can put 170km of range into the battery in just 27 minutes. Though the E-Tech’s single-charge range is lower than the norm for passenger EVs these days, the intended users for Renault’s electric van are businesses that operate on a back-to-base fleet model, such as couriers and other distribution companies that don’t require their vehicles to stray too far from HQ, with the rapid-charge capability allowing the van to be recharged over the course of a lunch break to extend its endurance.

Right now, only the short-wheelbase Kangoo E-Tech is available, priced at $61,990 before on-road costs. Later in the year, a long-wheelbase variant will join it with an RRP of $63,990. Standard equipment for both zero-emission Kangoos includes an 8” infotainment touchscreen, three-abreast seating up front, a fixed cabin bulkhead with internal window, rear barn doors, dual sliding doors, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

The battery doesn’t impinge on cargo volume, with the SWB able to take 3.3m³ of cargo and a maximum payload of 523kg, while the LWB can tote 4.2m³ and 668kg. The cargo area measures 1,248mm between the rear wheel wells on both the SWB and LWB, with the former offering 1,806mm of cargo bay length and 1,215mm of cargo bay height, and the latter giving respective dimensions of 2,230mm and 1,248mm. Both models offer a 1.5t maximum towing rating on a braked trailer.

The Renault Kangoo E-Tech is available to order now, with a standard vehicle warranty of five years/100,000km and a battery-specific warranty of eight years/160,000km.