Electric trucks are now a reality for Renault Trucks, from both a commercial and industrial standpoint. In March 2020, the constructor is due to commence serial production of its D and D Wide Z.E. electric trucks in its Blainville-sur-Orne plant.
Electric Trucks to be Produced by Renault Trucks in March
The serial production of Renault Trucks D and D Wide Z.E. Electric trucks is commencing in the constructor’s Normandy plant in Blainville-sur-Orne.
Various facilities have been installed in the Blainville-sur-Orne industrial site to manufacture the electric models. Located next to the truck assembly line for the distribution range, the 1,800 m² Z.E. building is now dedicated to technical operations relating to electric vehicles. Technical procedures are performed upstream and downstream of the Renault Trucks D and D Wide Z.E. passing through the assembly line. This building is also used to store components; in particular a temperature-controlled area is dedicated to battery storage.
Manufacture starts one week prior to the electric trucks passing through the assembly line, with preliminary operations performed within the Z.E. building. 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 in order to be mounted onto the vehicle.
The Renault Trucks D and D Wide Z.E. are assembled on the same line as the equivalent diesel models. At the end of the assembly line, the electric trucks are returned to the Z.E. building for the technicians to carry out additional technical operations and quality tests.
Renault Trucks predicts that electric vehicles will represent 10% of its sales volume by 2025.
