Renault unveils its second generation of electric trucks

To keep pace with the changing face of urban transport, Renault Trucks is launching its second generation of electric trucks. The Renault Trucks Z.E. line-up, consisting of the Renault Master Z.E., Renault Trucks D Z.E. and Renault Trucks D Wide Z.E., ranging from 3.5 to 26 tonnes, covers uses from goods distribution and delivery to refuse collection.

For Renault Trucks, electromobility was the response to urban air quality and noise issues from the outset, as well as cut CO2 emissions.

For over ten years, the company has been field testing electric trucks with its customer-partners in order to garner information about usage, battery behaviour, charging facilities and specific maintenance requirements.

These real-world tests have also enabled Renault Trucks' customer-partners to help their own customers come to an acceptance of electric technology. Renault Trucks has over a decade of experience with all-electric trucks thanks to the Renault Maxity.

"Ten years' ago, we were the pioneers, promoting electric trucks to improve city air quality. Today we can offer a range of electric vehicles with proven performance and the experts in our network are ready to help our customers transition to electromobility", explains Renault Trucks President Bruno Blin

The latest technological advances have made electric trucks an economically viable alternative for hauliers, leading Renault Trucks to launch a complete Z.E. range.

However strict the regulations may be in urban zones, the vehicles in the Renault Trucks Z.E. operate seamlessly in compliance. They are the solution to safeguard air quality and reduce congestion as they allow noise-free out-of-hours deliveries and emit neither local pollutants nor CO2.

Some companies in the freight industry have already opted for electromobility. One such company is XPO Logistics.

"At XPO, we have led by example as the transport industry becomes increasingly aware of the need for alternative power", said Luis Gomez, managing director-transport, XPO Logistics Europe. "We commend our supplier Renault Trucks for investing in the development of electric vehicles that offer a practical way to achieve zero emissions."

Suez is also following the release of the Renault Trucks Z.E range with interest.

"We are delighted to see a competitive new industrial solution arrive on the market and to be able to partner with Renault Trucks," explains Edouard Hénaut, executive director local authorities services at Suez. "This new electric truck offering will allow Suez to help its customers reduce their carbon footprint thanks to a zero-emission environmentally-friendly and silent refuse collection solution."

The Renault Trucks Master Z.E., which will be released in September 2018, is ideal for last-mile deliveries and provides access to inner-city areas even those with strict traffic restrictions. The battery of this all-electric utility vehicle takes six hours to charge.

Its loading volume is the same as a conventional diesel Renault Master. The Master Z.E. range comes in six variants designed to meet all the requirements of professionals working in urban environments.

To protect the driver and the load and keep city-dwellers safe, the Master Z.E. is outfitted with a reversing camera, reversing radar system and wide-view mirror as standard features.

The specially designed 16 t version of the Renault Trucks D Z.E. is ideal for urban and controlled temperature deliveries. The Renault Trucks D Wide Z.E. will come in a 26 t version for efficient refuse collection. Both models will be manufactured at the Renault Trucks plant in Blainville-sur-Orne, Normandy, France in the second half of 2019.

A medium-duty Renault Trucks Z.E. vehicle has an operating range of up to 300 km depending on usage and battery configuration. The battery pack is the most expensive item when buying an electric truck. For Renault Trucks, there is no question of compromising on payload or cost-effectiveness, so different operating ranges will be available tailored to customers' exact needs.

Thanks to rapid DC charging, the Renault Trucks D Z.E. and Renault Trucks D Wide Z.E. lithium-ion batteries can be fully charged in as little as one to two hours. For overnight AC charging, the time to fully charge a 300-kWh battery is 12 hours.