Renault Trucks E-Tech T & C series production starts
Series production of 44-tonne electric trucks gets under way at Bourg-en-Bresse plant
SERIES production of Renault Trucks’ heavy-duty electric trucks has just begun at the Bourg-en-Bresse plant. The site, which has been assembling the brand’s trucks for 60 years, will now also assemble the company’s E-Tech T and C trucks.
The 44-tonne E-Tech T and C, designed for regional distribution and urban construction, respectively, are the latest additions to the French manufacturer’s all-electric range, which now covers and decarbonizes virtually all urban and regional applications.
To accommodate the manufacture of the E-Tech T and C electric trucks, Renault Trucks have invested in transforming and adapting their industrial facilities, as well as building the skills of their employees.
The manufacturer is drawing on four years’ experience of manufacturing medium-tonnage electric trucks at its Blainville-sur-Orne plant and applying the same precepts and best practices at Bourg-en-Bresse.
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C are assembled on the same line as their diesel equivalents, after which they are transferred to a dedicated 5,200m2 area – the Renault Trucks E-Tech Factory – where qualified operators and technicians carry out the technical operations specific to electrification, namely assembly of the electric drive unit (EDU) and installation of the transmission and batteries.
The electric vehicles then return to the series production process, with performance tests and track trials to guarantee their reliability and quality.
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C cover virtually all urban construction and regional distribution applications. Whether transporting goods, materials, or industrial waste, for example, the vehicles can be adapted to any body style, thanks to three types of power take-off (PTO): electric, electromechanical, or on the gearbox, opening up the possibility of decarbonizing new areas of urban and regional activity.
With a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes, the E-Tech T and C are available in 4x2 and 6x2 tractor versions, with a long cab and a wheelbase of 3,900mm. In rigid configuration, they are available in 4x2, 6x2 and 8x4 tridem, short or long cab, with a choice of 11 wheelbases, ranging from 3,900mm to 6,700mm.
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T and C can be equipped with two or three electric motors developing a combined power of up to 490kW (660hp).
To meet customers’ needs in terms of range and activity, the E-Tech T and C can be fitted with four to six lithium-ion battery packs providing between 390kWh and 540kWh of power. The batteries can be recharged by alternating current (AC) up to 43kW, or by direct current (DC) up to 250kW.
The trucks will be able to travel up to 300km on a full charge and up to 500km with an intermediate fast charge (250kW) lasting one hour (for a vehicle fitted with six battery packs).
The battery cells and modules are supplied by Samsung SDI and assembled in Ghent, Belgium, at a plant owned by the Volvo Group, of which Renault Trucks are themselves part.
