Series production of Renault Trucks E-Tech T & C started

Renault Trucks has begun series production of heavy-duty electric trucks in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, just northeast of Lyon. The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are the latest truck models in Renault Trucks' all-electric range.

Renault Trucks' plant in Bourg-en-Bresse has been in operation since 1964 and is now ready to assemble the Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C, intended for regional distribution and urban construction activities, respectively. The trucks weigh 50 tons, making the manufacturer's all-electric vehicle range, which starts with the 650 kg e-cargo bikes, the widest on the European market. This means that from now on virtually all urban and regional transport activities are possible without CO2 emissions. 

Adaptation of production facilities

To enable the production of these 50-ton electric trucks, Renault Trucks has invested in converting and adapting its industrial facilities, as well as in training its employees. The manufacturer has four years of experience producing medium electric trucks at its plant in Blainville-sur-Orne, Normandy, and is applying the same principles and practices in Bourg-en-Bresse.

The electric Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are assembled on the same line as the diesel version, after which they are transferred to a special 5,200-square-meter space: the Renault Trucks E-Tech Factory. 
Here, qualified operators and mechanics perform the technical operations specific to electric vehicles, namely the assembly of the Electric Drive Unit (EDU) and the installation of the transmission and batteries. The electric trucks are then put back into the series production process with performance and circuit tests to ensure reliability and quality.

New business activities with no CO2 emissions

The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are suitable for virtually all applications in regional distribution and building and construction work. Whether they transport goods, materials or (industrial) waste, all vehicles can be adapted to any bodywork thanks to three types of power take-off (PTOs): electric, electro-mechanical or on the gearbox. This provides the opportunity to carry out new activities in cities and regions carbon-free.

With a maximum permissible train weight of up to 50 tons, the Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are available in 4×2 and 6×2 tractor versions, with a long cab and a wheelbase of 3,900 mm. In the configuration without a trailer, they are available as 4×2, 6×2 and 8×4 tridem, with short or long cab and with a choice of eleven wheelbases ranging from 3,900 to 6,700 mm.

Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C can be equipped with two or three electric motors with a combined output of up to 490 kW (= 660 hp).

To meet customer needs in terms of range and applications, the Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C can be equipped with four to six lithium-ion battery packs with a capacity of 390 to 540 kWh. The battery packs are rechargeable with both alternating current (AC) up to 43 kW and direct current (DC) up to 250 kW. These trucks can travel up to 300 km on a full battery charge and up to 500 km with a one-hour interim fast charge (250 kW) (for a vehicle with six battery packs).

The battery cells and modules are supplied by Samsung SDI and assembled in Ghent, Belgium. This factory is owned by the Volvo Group, to which Renault Trucks itself belongs.