Renault Trucks begins series e-truck production in France
The electric truck models Renault debuted in November 2022 are now rolling off the production line at the French plant in Bourg-en-Bresse. The battery cells and modules come from Samsung SDI and are assembled in Ghent, Belgium, at a new plant belonging to the Volvo Group, which also includes Renault Trucks. Volvo Trucks started series production of its three heavy-duty models, FH Electric, FM Electric and FMX Electric, in Ghent in September 2023.
In the case of Renault trucks, four to six battery packs with a 390 to 540 kWh capacity can be installed per vehicle, depending on customer requirements. Interesting detail: when the company presented its first technical data in spring 2022, there was still talk of offering the option of two battery packs with 180 kWh. Now Renault Trucks only mentions the four or six pack variants.
According to the manufacturer, a range of up to 300 kilometres is possible with the maximum configuration on a single charge and up to 500 km with an intermediate fast charge with up to 250 kW for an hour. Aside from fast charging, Renault Trucks specifies a charging capacity of 43 kW AC. The charging time is 9.5 hours with alternating current or 2.5 hours with direct current.
To cover various use cases, Renault Trucks offers three power take-off types for auxiliary units: purely electric, electromechanical or directly on the transmission. Customers can choose between two or three electric motors for the drive, enabling a total output of up to 490 kW.
With a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes, Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are available as 4×2 and 6×2 tractor units with an extended cab and a wheelbase of 3,900 mm. In the rigid configuration, they are available as 4×2, 6×2 and 8×4 tridem, with short or long cab and a choice of eleven wheelbases from 3,900 t.
Renault Trucks has been making trucks for nearly 60 years in Bourg-en-Bresse and now assembles the new 44-t electric trucks. The manufacturer says it is drawing on four years of experience manufacturing medium-tonnage electric trucks at its Blainville-sur-Orne plant and applying the same precepts and best practices at Bourg-en-Bresse.
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are assembled on the same line as their diesel equivalents, after which they are transferred to a dedicated 5,200 m2 area that the company calls the Renault Trucks E-Tech Factory. Staff there assembles the Electric Drive Unit (EDU) and installs the transmission and batteries. The electric vehicles then undergo performance tests and track trials.
With the expansion of its electric range, Renault Trucks is taking another step in its eMobility strategy and targets: By 2030, the manufacturer aims to generate 50 per cent of its sales from electric vehicles. By 2040, all vehicles shall be locally CO2-neutral.
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