- Renault Trucks has revealed two new electric truck models: The E-Tech T 585 and the E-Tech T 780, with the 780 existing as the longest range electric HGV released so far by Renault.
- With a range of 372 miles (600 kilometres), the E-Tech T 780 is set to be the top choice for operators who need a long-distance, zero-emission HGV.
- The new models use energy-dense NCA battery cells, helping to maximise energy capacity and range.
This is Renault’s longest range electric HGV
The Renault Trucks E-Tech T 780, with its 780kWh battery capacity, will be able to travel up to 600 kilometres between charges. This will make it one of the longest range electric HGVs available on the European market, beating the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 – which will manage 500 kilometres between trips to the charger.
Renault Trucks has also introduced the E-Tech T 585. This has a slightly reduced battery range, at 460 kilometres, but will now offer the highest maximum payload of any electric truck on sale within this range – with a payload of up to 28 tonnes.
Both new models are also compatible with the Megawatt Charging System, allowing for a maximum charging speed of 720kW on a suitable charger. This is enough to add up to 350 kilometres in 45 minutes, allowing longer journey distances to still be achieved with ease if they can be aligned with legally mandated driver breaks.
Longer range electric trucks are set to be a game changer for the haulage industry, an industry in which EV adoption has so far lagged significantly behind the rate of uptake seen in the passenger car and smaller commercial vehicle sectors. Right now, in the UK, just 2-3% of new HGVs registered had a fully-electric powertrain – with diesel still the dominant choice for operators. However, long range electric trucks like this are helping to turn the tide. We saw recently how Mercedes’ 600 kilometre truck offering has enabled one operator in the UK to use the truck for one of its overnight logistics routes, which would have previously been impossible with shorter range electric trucks. Larger operators like Amazon are also making the switch, which helps show to other firms that an electric truck fleet is already possible.
