Renault Trucks receives homologation approval for retrofitted e-truck

Renault Trucks D retrofit with electric drivetrain (Photo: Renault Trucks)

Renault Trucks has received the first road homologation approval for a truck retrofitted with an electric drivetrain.

The transformation of the truck from internal combustion power to an electric drive was finished at the end of 2023.

After completion of the mechanical conversion, a team at Renault Trucks conducted a series of tests at UTAC, a technical body based in Paris accredited to ISO 17025. These included assessment of electromagnetic compatibility in line with the R100 standard, together with checks of the braking system.

Following these tests, a report of all work was submitted to the environmental agency Auvergne Rhone-Alpes DREAL.

With approval granted, the 12-tonne truck will be leased to Extime, operator of the Paris Airport duty-free stores. It will be used for shuttle journeys from company warehouses to the airport.

The truck has a maximum approximate range of 250 km.

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

“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.”

This first retrofitted truck will serve as a ‘laboratory’ for the truck OEM, allowing it to evaluate the efficiency and productivity of the solution before scaling up the process.

The cost of retrofitting an existing vehicle with an electric drivetrain is said to be about 15% less than the purchase of a new electric vehicle.