Renault Trucks is due to commence serial production of its D and D Wide Z.E. electric trucks at its Blainville-sur-Orne plant.
Various functions and facilities have now been installed at the French site to manufacture the electric truck models. Located next to the normal assembly line for the distribution range, which produces 262 cabs and distribution trucks every day, a new 1,800 m² Z.E. building is now entirely dedicated to technical operations relating to electric vehicles.
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.
Manufacture starts one week prior to the electric trucks passing through the assembly line, with preliminary operations performed within the Z.E. building. Various sub-assemblies specific to all-electric vehicles (drive, engine, gearbox, central unit, etc.) are assembled by skilled technicians. They are then transported to the assembly line in order to be mounted onto the vehicle.
Renault Trucks predicts that electric vehicles will represent 10% of its sales volume by 2025, marking a decisive turning point in the transformation of urban mobility.