E-trucks are now a reality for Renault Trucks, from both a commercial and industrial standpoint. In March 2020, Renault commenced serial production of its D and D Wide Z.E. electric trucks in its Blainville-sur-Orne plant. This marks a decisive turning point in the transformation of urban mobility.
The serial production of Renault Trucks D and D Wide Z.E. Electric trucks started in the constructor's Normandy plant in Blainville-sur-Orne. Since 1957, the firm has specialized in the construction of medium-duty cars and truck cabins. Every day, 240 cabins are built, and 72 distribution trucks are manufactured. This is also where the constructor's electric trucks are manufactured.
To manufacture the electric models, several facilities have been erected in the Blainville-sur-Orne industrial complex. The 18,000 m2 Z.E. facility, located close to the truck assembly line for the distribution range, is now totally dedicated to technical operations connected to electric vehicles.
Upstream and downstream of the Renault Trucks D and D Wide Z.E. moving through the production line, technical processes are carried out. This structure is also used to store components, including a temperature-controlled room dedicated to battery storage.
The manufacture starts one week before the electric trucks pass through the assembly line, with preliminary operations performed within the Z.E. building. First, various subassemblies specific to all-electric vehicles (drive, engine, gearbox, modular power box, etc.) are assembled by skilled technicians. They are then transported to the assembly line to be mounted onto the vehicle.
The Renault Trucks D and D Wide Z.E. are built on the same assembly line as the comparable diesel variants. The electric vehicles are returned to the Z.E. building at the conclusion of the production line to undergo additional technical operations and quality checks. An electric vehicle requires a total of 50 hours of labor to complete.
Renault Trucks anticipates that electric cars will account for 10% of their sales volume by 2025.
Renault Trucks is always working to improve the safety of city people, drivers, and their goods. As a result, the firm is introducing additional features to its C and K product lines.
The integration of trucks into the increasingly dense traffic of big metropolitan areas and the growth of soft modes of transportation necessitates an ever-increasing focus on safety.
Renault Trucks, which already equips its vehicles with various safety systems, is offering new safety features. Straightforward, competitive, and practical, these solutions meet customer requirements and improve the protection of vulnerable road users in urban environments.
• When the driver exits the cab, the emergency park brake application (anti-runaway mode) instantly activates the braking system to immobilize the truck, reducing the possibility of unexpected vehicle movement;
• The driver's direct vision is improved utilizing a passenger-side vision door that allows drivers to see any user on the road;
• The driver's indirect vision is improved by employing surveillance cameras placed around the vehicle. Images from the road are displayed on the Roadpad+ screen;
• The detection of susceptible individuals is aided by presence detectors installed on the vehicle's exterior, on the opposite side from the driver. In the taxi, the driver receives an auditory and visual alarm;
• An external user alert speaker warns vulnerable road users when the vehicle is about to maneuver on the opposite side to the driver, when the car is reversing and when the driver is using the vehicle's equipment arm;
• Two visual indicator repeaters complement the loudspeaker for road users with hearing loss or those wearing headphones, for example.
These safety systems are in addition to those already available on the Renault Trucks range, such as the Automated Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning System (LKS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), automatically engaged when the engine stops. For driving safely on construction sites, trucks in the construction range are equipped with off-road mode and manual accelerator as standard.
Renault Trucks has announced its participation in the next Solutrans, the worldwide exposition of road and urban transport solutions, which will be held from November 16 to November 20, 2021, at the Eurexpo exhibition center in the manufacturer's historic homeland of Lyon.
Renault Trucks is dedicated to energy transformation, with a special emphasis on electric mobility. With its all-electric Renault Trucks Z.E. series, which is made in France, the company provides vehicles with zero emissions in use, which helps to protect air quality and decrease city congestion. These vehicles can be driven regardless of the limits imposed in cities.
Visitors to Solutrans will have the opportunity to see a 16t D Z.E. and a 26t D Wide Z.E. on the Renault Trucks stand.
On the exhibit, two all-electric Renault Trucks Master Z.E commercial trucks will also be on display. One would have a Solight composite body, while the other will have interior amenities tailored specifically for courier services.
Renault Trucks will also offer its vision of future urban mobility in this section dedicated to electrified and urban mobility.
Renault Trucks is devoted to extending vehicle life. The manufacturer provides refurbished vehicles, most notably through repairing and upgrading its clients' trucks.
Renault Trucks has also established the Old Trucks Facility, which is located within the Bourg-en-Bresse factory and specializes in the reconversion of used vehicles. Tractors are adapted to supply (T X-Road), and rigid (T P-Road) at this factory, and vehicles are adjusted to meet the needs of the African and Middle Eastern markets (T X-Port and T X64).
In addition, Renault Trucks is recycling by dismantling end-of-life trucks to recover parts that can be renovated and reusable raw materials that will then be reintroduced into the circuit.
As an integral part of this approach, the Renault Trucks used trucks business will be represented at Solutrans, with a new limited series: Used Trucks by Renault Trucks.
