First of its kind from Renault Trucks
Truck manufacturer produces fully electric construction truck for French plant hire firm Noblet Group
FOLLOWING the launch of their comprehensive range of electric trucks designed for the distribution sector, Renault Trucks are producing their first electric truck dedicated to construction with zero emissions in use.
French plant hire specialists the Noblet Group, who are committed to a rigorous energy transition, are set to take delivery of the first D Wide Z.E. fitted with Jocquin tipper body and Hiab X HiPro 142-E crane.
The fully electric 26-tonne D Wide Z.E. 6x2 with a steered rear axle is equipped with a pack of four 66kWh batteries. Thanks to low noise levels and zero tailpipe emissions, the vehicle is well suited to construction operations in urban and suburban environments.
On construction sites, the crane and tipping gear, which require the engine to be kept running, will now be operated without CO2 emissions or noise, significantly improving worker comfort and the quality of life of local residents.
The use of electric trucks on site also eliminates one of the challenges of off-road use, the raising of dust by exhaust emissions, without the need to install a vertical exhaust system.
The Renault Trucks Z.E. range vehicles also meet the environmental requirements of operating in urban areas with restricted traffic regulations.
It is precisely this ‘zero emissions in use’ that Noblet are seeking to achieve. They already sees comparative advantages in this, as their chief executive officer, Laurent Galle, explained: ‘Some clients in certain cities in the Paris region, for specific worksites, will be ready to pay more for equipment that is mainly carbon-free and, above all, silent.’
One further benefit identified by Noblet is the support available from the French Government, which for this vehicle totals almost €100,000.
Commenting on this last point, Andrew Scott, head of electromobility for Renault Trucks in the UK and Ireland, said: ‘Recent changes to the Plug-in Vehicle Grant by the UK Government fail to recognize the key part incentives can play in increasing the uptake in electric vehicles.
‘If we want to see electric vehicles adopted in sectors such as construction, it will be critical that we have the support of government in properly valuing the benefits which fully electric vehicles can bring to our city streets.’
The Noblet Group chose a D Wide Z.E. equipped with four 66kWh battery packs, which can be recharged in less than 10 hours from a 22kW socket and in less than two hours with a 150kW rapid charger.
The vehicle, which will be used in the Greater Paris region, can easily be recharged near the operational sites or at a few stations in Paris that are suitable for commercial vehicles. For example, a one-hour partial recharge (22kW) will provide an additional 15–20 km, making electricity a suitable technology for urban use.
