ELECTROMOBILITY

Blainville-sur-Orne, the home of Renault Trucks’ distribution and electric vehicle manufacturing, is steeped in engineering history. In fact the site was once a prominent shipyard, before being taken over by French truck company Saviem in 1956. Les Chantiers navals Français (CnF), headquartered at the port of Caen, was founded in 1917, and ceased operations in 1954. The company mainly built merchant ships but also built destroyers and submarine s for the French navy between 1924 and 1933 and the destroyers ORP Wicher and ORP Burza for the Polish navy. Today the naves of the former hull workshop which were not destroyed during the Battle of Caen remain to accommodate the manufacture of trucks and cabs. DAF & Peterbilt trucks and Volvo Trucks are among the cab customers supplied from here.

Renault Trucks – Sailing on with 100% Electric E-TECH

Today, 2,200 employees (and a number of robots) produce 286 cabs and 82 trucks per shift on a vast compound that covers 74 hectares, surrounded by the River Orne and canal. Each medium duty truck from the Renault D & D-Wide range, including electric powered versions (from the same family series) is made to order here, with a high percentage of them tailor-made to customer specifications.

With over 1 million trucks produced in 65 years, investment in improving efficiencies has been continuous. In the last decade alone, €200 million has been directed towards making Blainville the most energy efficient and largest electric truck manufacturing plant in Europe.

Renault Trucks’s green agenda has seen a reduction of water and energy by 50% in recent years, while the facility has become a self-sufficient zero landfill production site, using 100% renewable electricity. Renault Trucks is well ahead in planning targets to meet the 100% fossil free commercial vehicle sales 2040 deadline, with a continuing focus on electrification. During the last decade Renault Trucks has steadily developed and expanded its selection of electric trucks, and sales volumes reflect this rapid progress with 870 orders received in 2021. With a renewed strategy and increased ambition, the Volvo Group owned truck brand plans that 50% of its sales will be zero-emission electric vehicles by 2030 (initially it was 35%).

Together with a broader range of electric commercial vehicles (from light to medium to heavy duty), Renault Trucks, through its 1,400 strong dealer and service agent network, will provide comprehensive support for road transport operators in their transition to carbon neutrality. And so it’s goodbye to the Z.E. (Zero-Emissions) badging and hello to E-TECH. The new nomenclature

covers a broader portfolio, focusing on 3600 support for customers, from their initial purchase to monitoring the operations of their electric trucks. Other elements include financing, auxiliaries, repair and maintenance, battery charging, exchange and disposal.

Regarding the product selection, the line-up covers from the 3.1 tonne Master van to the 18-26 tonne D & D-Wide models. Depending on the battery packs fitted, up to 400 kms is achievable with the trucks and over 200 km on the Master 52 kWh version. By 2023, the heavy duty Renault T & C Evolution models will also be electrified – see

Make/Model: Renault D-Wide E-TECH 26-tonne 6x2 rigid

Power: 260kW continuous/370kW peak Torque: 850 Nm Batteries: 265 kWh – 600V Gearbox: 2 forward, 1 reverse Charging: From 22 kW to 150 kW Kerb Weight: 9800 kg (without body) Payload: 16,2000 kg Wheel/Tyres: 315/80 R22.5 Suspension: Air – front and rear

separate story.

Customers have already covered over 1 million kms in Renault Trucks’s electric vehicles, and from the feedback received from these operators, a substantial file of operational data has been collated, which provides invaluable information towards the development of the next phase of electric vehicles.

‘Renault Trucks has moved to the next level of its strategy with regard to energy transition and environmental challenges’

The journey toward the decarbonisation of vehicle fleets has to be taken in many steps, according to Francois Savoye, VP Electromobility Solutions at Renault Trucks. Initially it is about bringing awareness and understanding to customers, explaining the different options available while recommending the right choice of electric vehicle for their operation. The diagnosis phase ascertains the charging infrastructure required, allocating key personnel to take on the project and implement driver training. Route planning and fleet monitoring are also among the solutions provided.

‘It can take three months from the first discussions before making a deal with electric vehicles, whereas it takes only two weeks with diesel vehicles.’ On the question of the battery charging infrastructure, Renault Trucks is linking-up with Volvo Group’s pan-European Charging network programme, in a joint venture with Daimler and the Traton Group which will see 1,700 high-performance charging points installed by 2025.

While battery supply is sourced mainly in Asia, Europe is to become self-sufficient in battery production within the next few years. For now, Renault Trucks will continue to receive its requirements from Renault Group’s South Korean subsidiary, Samsung. Battery technology development is ongoing, increasing power, range and reducing weight. Sustainability is also high on the philosophy page, with reduced usage of and dependence on essential ingredients such as cobalt, manganese and nickel.

It’s almost ten years since our last visit to the Normandy region of Northern France. On that occasion, it was to undertake a memorable drive along the battlement strewn coastline in the new Renault Range T model that went on to generate significant sales success and receive international and national awards. This time around, our trip was in was in two of the latest electric powered versions, namely the 16 tonne 4x2 D and the 26 tonne 6x2 D-Wide E-TECH rigids. As with all EVs (Electric Vehicles), acceleration is spontaneous and forward motion is silent, while regeneration is achieved through deceleration and use of the retarder. Visibility is as per standard trucks, enhanced with the aid of the kerb side lower glazed door panel.

There is no doubt that less energy is required to drive these zero-emission vehicles and considering the amount of time drivers spend behind the wheel, that’s a positive. The fact that this technology of the future is available here and now may just entice young drivers to the sector, while simultaneously increasing positivity about the industry with the wider public, thanks to the cleaner image it portrays.S

Make/Model: Renault D E-TECH 16-tonne 4x2 rigid

Power: 130kW continuous/185kW peak Torque: 425 Nm Batteries: 265 kWh – 600V Gearbox: 2 forward, 1 reverse Charging: From 22 kW to 150 kW Kerb Weight: 7454 kg (without body) Payload: 8546 kg Wheel/Tyres: 285/70 R19.5 Suspension: Air – front and rear

Renault Trucks is pursuing its commitment to supporting its customers’ energy transition and its ambition to provide electric trucks for all applications. Since 2020, the manufacturer has been producing a range of all-electric vehicles from the 3.1 tonne Master van to the D-Wide 26 tonner, all manufactured at its Blanville-Sur-Orne plant in northern France.

It was at this facility, the home of its distribution electric mobility vehicle manufacturing, that the expansion of Renault Trucks’ all-electric range was announced, with two new heavy duty models, the Renault Trucks T E-Tech Evolution for regional transport and the

Renault Trucks to add T E-Tech Evolution & C E-Tech Evolution to 100% Electric range

Project OXYGEN - Renault Trucks & GEODIS to increase urban logistics efficiencies

Renault Trucks C E-Tech Evolution for the construction industry. Start of sales is expected in 2023. These new T & C E-TECH Evolution models in Renault Trucks’ heavy-duty range will be fitted with two or three electric motors providing a combined power of up to 490 kW (equivalent to 666 hp). Available in 4x2 and 6x2 tractor versions and 4x2, 6x2 and 8x4 tridem rigids, they will be also equipped with an Optidriver gearbox. The Renault Trucks T & C E-Tech Evolution will have two to six lithium-ion battery packs with a capacity of 180 to 540 kWh. The vehicles’ batteries can be fully charged in 9.5 hours by alternating current (AC) up to 43 kW, or in 2.5 hours by direct current (DC) up to 250 kW. These trucks will be able to travel up to 300 km on a single charge and up to 500 km with a one-hour intermediate fast charge (250 kW). They will be manufactured at the Renault Trucks plant in Bourg-en-Bresse.

Renault Trucks and GEODIS are combining their industrial, logistics and engineering expertise to design a brand new 16-tonne electric truck dedicated to urban logistics to increase delivery efficiencies - at a cost comparable to that of a diesel vehicle.

Thanks to the collaborative work carried out from the design stage onwards, this vehicle (project name: Oxygen) will make it possible to integrate all the requirements and functions of city-centre delivery: elimination of pollution and noise, and improvement of active and passive safety in order to better manage co-existence with all road users (active mobility, including pedestrians and cyclists). In the early phases of work, the following areas of focus were identified:

n Improved safety for the driver and the public thanks to a lowered cab, giving the driver an excellent direct view for optimal protection of road users. A large windscreen and multiple cameras instead of rear-view mirrors offer a 360° view, while a sliding side door on the passenger side eliminates the risk of the door opening into pedestrian areas. n Greater comfort for the driver, who will be able to get out of the truck on either side, left or right. Climbing in and out of the truck will be made easier by a much lower access height than on a standard delivery truck. n Optimal ergonomics and easier access to the cargo space. A specialist bodybuilder will develop an innovative body installation to improve loading/ unloading operations in the urban environment. n Connected tools enabling drivers to optimise their delivery operations and their routes.

The new electric truck will be produced at Renault Trucks’ site in Blainville-surOrne, France, and will be trialled for urban deliveries in Paris, starting in 2023.

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie