Renault Trucks has become the first truck manufacturer in France to obtain approval to use an electric retrofitted vehicle, which will now begin to be trialled as part of Renault’s plans to scale up the technology.

If the trial is a success the technology could cut the cost of electric trucks substantially, with the acquisition cost estimated to be up to 15% lower than that of a new electric vehicle.

The 12-tonne electric truck has been leased by Renault Trucks’ leasing partner Clovis Grand Paris to Extime, the Paris Airport duty-free stores operator, and will be used for frequent shuttle journeys between Extime’s warehouses and the airport. It has a range of 250 km.

Renault Trucks completed the workshop conversion of the internal combustion engine truck into a battery-electric vehicle, in collaboration with Novumtech and with financial backing from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe) in December last year.

After completing the mechanical conversion, the truck had to go through a series of rigorous tests at UTAC, a Paris-based technical approval body accredited to ISO 17025, to gain road approval in France.

These included assessments of electromagnetic compatibility in line with the R100 standard, as well as thorough checks on the conformity of the braking system.

Following this technical approval, a comprehensive administrative dossier, which included detailed reports of all tests conducted, was submitted to the environmental agency, the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes DREAL.

With this retrofit now finally road-approved the manufacturer will begin assessing the economic, environmental and business viability of the process.

Renault Trucks said this first electric retrofitted truck “serves as a crucial laboratory for Renault Trucks, allowing it to evaluate the efficiency and productivity of the solution before potentially scaling up the process.”

Laurent Colpier, vice president of Used Trucks and Urban Logistics at Renault Trucks, added: “The use of this vehicle in real operational conditions will enable us validate the economic viability and robustness of the electric retrofit solution.

“This pilot project exemplifies our dedication to preserving natural resources while minimizing the environmental impact of vehicle usage. The truck perfectly embodies the circular economy approach that we champion at Renault Trucks.”

 

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