Renault Trucks announces a version of its E-Tech T electric truck with a 600 km range

The truck manufacturer Renault Trucks, part of the Volvo Group since 2001 although it keeps its original name, has just taken a new step forward in favour of electric mobility in the long-haul freight transport sector with the announcement of a new version of its E-Tech T model which, as promised, will offer a range of up to 600 kilometres.

Renault Trucks plans to begin commercialising this new long-range electric truck in 2026, but will start accepting orders from mid-2025. That is, in just over six months. The company thus follows in the footsteps of Volvo Trucks, which also plans to launch an electric truck with a similar range to market, but somewhat sooner, without waiting for next year to end.

The French plant in Bourg-en-Bresse will be in charge of producing this improved new version of the E-Tech T from Renault Trucks. The secret to this new electric truck’s greater range lies in a new electric axle (e-axle), which integrates all the powertrain components at the rear of the vehicle. This innovation allows a more efficient use of space to house additional battery packs, thereby raising its capacity to around 800 kWh, compared with 540 kWh in the current version.

A turning point in the adoption of the electric truck

Senior executives of the company, such as Emmanuel Duperray, Senior Vice President of Electromobility at Renault Trucks, do not conceal their enthusiasm for what this technological innovation represents for the long-haul road freight sector. In his opinion, the major leap forward in range of the company’s new generation of electric trucks will give a significant boost to the transition to electric mobility in the sector. This, combined with the planned development of charging infrastructure for electric trucks by 2026, will make it possible to offer operational parity with diesel-engined trucks.

Nevertheless, Duperray has wanted to warn that manufacturers must not fall into a range race that sets efficiency aside, as this would be a mistake. Oversizing the battery packs of new generations of electric trucks would mean higher operating costs and, at the same time, a reduction in payload volume. For this reason, the company is going to focus its efforts on advising its customers to adjust the battery capacity of their new electric trucks to their real needs, thereby optimising logistics and transport efficiency.

Finally, it should be noted that neither Renault Trucks nor Volvo Trucks are the only truck manufacturers taking significant steps in favour of electric mobility in the long-haul freight transport sector. Other competitors such as Daimler with the eActros 600, MAN, Iveco or DAF have already presented alternative proposals that will reach the market in the short or medium term.