Renault Master ZE review

The upfront cost for a Renault Master ZE isn’t cheap (indeed, it's more than twice the price of a diesel Master), but it could still represent a decent return on investment if the total cost of ownership and your usage fits the bill.

For those looking to travel into congestion or emissions charging zones that exempt electric vehicles, there’s an obvious immediate advantage. However, the true cost of ownership will very much depend on the price of your electricity. Roughly speaking, though, if it costs you 15p per kW, a full charge will cost you £4.95 and take you at least 74 miles in real-world conditions. That's cheaper than a gallon of diesel, with which a regular Master will take you only around 35 miles.

The Master ZE is based on the Business specification of the regular Master. That means it comes with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a fully adjustable driver’s seat and a preheating function to warm the interior before unplugging, which helps to maintain range.

It's also worth mentioning Renault’s EasyConnect system, which transmits secure data on the state of the van, allowing either Renault’s fleet management software or third-party systems to provide reports. This enables drivers, or more likely fleet managers, to check on location, range and nearby charging points for their vans, as well as any technical issues.

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