Renault Trucks announced it will release an all-electric truck for a variety of fleet segments, beginning for the 2023-MY, with a focus on distribution, construction, and long distance fleets, as part of an ongoing investment in electric mobility.
To support these developments the company is setting up an organization dedicated to electric mobility, the automaker said. Renault Trucks is committed to transforming the truck market by gradually electrifying its fleet to become carbon-neutral within 30 years.
Renault Trucks currently boasts a comprehensive all-electric range on the market, from 3.1 to 26 tons, the automaker said. Comprised of the Renault Trucks D Z.E., D Wide Z.E. and the Renault Trucks Master Z.E., these meet the requirements of urban transport, delivery, distribution and waste collection.
In March 2020, Renault Trucks began series production of its second generation of electric vehicles at the Blainville-sur-Orne plant in France, Renault said.
But Renault Trucks is seeking to extend vehicle electrification to all uses. Preparations are underway to market a Z.E. tractor to meet the needs of regional and inter-regional transport from 2023, Renault said. An all-electric offer designed for urban construction will also be available to order by this date.
During the second half of the decade, Renault Trucks will be able to offer a range of electric trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells, mainly for demanding and heavy long-haul operations, the automaker said.
"Electric mobility is the pillar of our strategy and we aim to lead the field," said Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks. "We're aiming for 35% of our sales to be electric in 2030. By 2040, all our vehicle ranges will be 100% fossil-free."
In order to achieve these goals, Renault Trucks is backed by dedicated units, both in research and development (R&D) and in the sales and after-sales organization, the automaker said.
On the R&D side, Renault Trucks intends to meet the main technological challenges of this revolution through strategic partnerships, as well as relying on synergies within the Volvo Group, to which it belongs, to increase volumes and reduce costs.
To ensure hauliers get the best solutions in electric mobility, Renault Trucks will benefit from the work carried out by the Volvo Group's new development unit dedicated to medium-tonnage vehicles, a core segment for the phased introduction of electromobility for trucks.
To facilitate this sustainable transition, Renault Trucks will also have the support of its new R&D centre in Lyon which will be built by the beginning of 2023.
