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The series production of heavy electric models from Renault Trucks has now commenced at the Bourg-en-Bresse site in France. For 60 years, trucks of the brand have been manufactured at this plant, and now the Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are also being produced. These heavy trucks are intended for regional distribution and construction traffic. They complete the electric offering of the French manufacturer by 100% – with a product range of vehicles from 2.8 t to 44 t, it is the most extensive on the European market.
(Saint-Priest/Bourg-en-Bresse) Since 1964, Renault Trucks has been manufactured in Bourg-en-Bresse, and from now on, the Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C will also be produced here. These trucks are designed for regional distribution and construction traffic. With a permissible total weight of 44 t, they complete the manufacturer’s 100% electric model range. Thanks to this largest product range in Europe, it is now possible to operate almost all urban and regional applications in a CO2-neutral manner.
Renault Trucks has modified its production facilities for the manufacturing of these 44 t electric trucks and has expanded the skills of its employees. The manufacturer can rely on four years of industrial experience in the field of medium-duty electric trucks (Renault Trucks E-Tech D and D Wide) at its plant in Blainville-sur-Orne, applying proven practices from Bourg-en-Bresse.
The assembly of the Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C models takes place on the same production line as the diesel models. At the end of the production line, the vehicles return to a 5,200 m2 area – the so-called “Renault Trucks E-Tech Factory”. There, qualified employees and technicians carry out the necessary technical measures for electrification: assembly of the electric drive unit (EDU – Electric Drive Unit), installation of the transmission and batteries. To ensure reliability and quality, the electric trucks then undergo the series production process again, including performance tests and test drives on the test track.
Decarbonization of New Economic Sectors
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C cover almost all applications in regional distribution and urban construction. This includes, among other things, the transport of goods, materials, or industrial waste. The vehicles can be equipped with three different power take-offs (PTO) and thus adapted to each body model: electric, electromechanical, or at the transmission. This creates the possibility to design new areas within urban and regional activities in a CO2-neutral manner.
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C models – with a permissible total weight of up to 44 t – are available as 4×2 and 6×2 tractor units with Day Cab, Night and Day Cab, and Sleeper Cab, with a wheelbase of 3,900 mm. The truck configuration is available as 4×2, 6×2, and 8×4 tridem with short or low cab, with eleven different wheelbases ranging from 3,900 to 6,700 mm.
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C can be equipped with two or three electric motors, with a combined power of up to 490 kW (= 660 hp).
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C models are equipped with four to six lithium-ion battery packs, with a total capacity of 390 to 540 kWh. This meets customer requirements in terms of range and usage. The batteries can be charged either with alternating current (AC) up to 43 kW or with direct current (DC) up to 250 kW. The trucks have a range of up to 300 km on a full charge, and with a one-hour fast charge (250 kW), they can travel up to 500 km (for a vehicle with 6 battery packs).
Battery Cells Manufactured in Belgium
The battery cells and modules come from Samsung SDI and are manufactured in Ghent (Belgium) at a plant of the Volvo Group – which also includes Renault Trucks.
Photo: © Renault Trucks
