Renault Trucks: From Diesel to Electric

The French truck manufacturer Renault Trucks has now converted a 12-ton diesel truck into a battery-powered electric truck. The project was carried out in collaboration with Novumtech and with financial support from the French Environment and Energy Agency ADEME. According to the manufacturer, the initiative aims to provide a dual benefit by preserving existing resources while simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles. The circular economy is one of the strategic focuses to decarbonize freight transport. The approach relies on the three pillars of renewal, conversion, and recycling.

The project was realized using predefined industrial processes. In the Used Trucks Factory in Bourg-en-Bresse (France), more than 1,500 trucks have been converted to date, and 700 trucks have been reconditioned at the Used Trucks Centre in Lyon – saving more than 5,000 tons of CO2, according to the manufacturer.

Diesel out, electricity in

When converting the 12-ton Renault Trucks D model to an electric truck, only the essentials were changed: engine, transmission, fuel, and AdBlue tanks. Additionally, components associated with the combustion engine (hydraulic pump for power steering, air compressor for suspension and brakes, and air conditioning compressor) were removed. These components were replaced by an electric motor directly connected to the drive shaft, a 210-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a 22-kW on-board charger, an electric air compressor for the suspension and brakes. An electric hydraulic pump for power steering, an electric air conditioning compressor, and an electric heater for the cabin were also added.