Renault Trucks E-Tech T review

We would love to have been a fly on the wall in Renault Trucks’ ‘How do we make our electric truck stand out from the crowd?’ brainstorming session. We’re picturing the work experience lad tentatively raising his hand and saying, “We should give it an electroluminescent paint job, call it ‘Echo Diamond’, and take it on a 10,000km tour of Europe”. He was probably quite surprised when his suggestion was met with a chorus of “Oui. Très bien!”

We catch up with this special zero-tailpipeemission E-Tech T 4x2 tractor unit at the Renault Trucks Scotland dealership in Bellshill, where it has stopped off for 48 hours, after being made available the previous day for potential customers to check out. And now it is our turn to get behind the wheel before it continues its whistlestop tour of the UK, culminating in an appearance at Truckfest.

The truck is a big deal for Renault Trucks, which prides itself on being “a leader of electric mobility innovation”. This is its first battery-powered tractor unit and means the French truck maker now has the widest range of battery-electric commercial vehicles on the market, from the 650kg e-cargo bike through to the E-Tech T 6x2 44-tonner. In fact, the only truck to avoid electrification so far is the T High.

The interior of the E-Tech T is impressive, and nearly everything you see here is now standard in combustionengined Ts. First and foremost, a new 12in digital instrument cluster sits directly in front of the driver. Adjacent to it is a 9in multifunction touchscreen seamlessly integrated into the dashboard. It boasts brightness and decent clarity, though a supportive lip at its base for hand stability on rough roads would be a welcome addition.

While we have yet to see a right-hand-drive version, we are assured that this screen no longer juts up above the dashboard, where it previously obstructed forward vision.

Additionally, a new 450mm-diameter multifunction leather steering wheel has been introduced. Previously, speed control buttons were tucked behind the wheel, which made them challenging for those unfamiliar with the layout. Now, they are prominently displayed and easily accessible, enhancing overall usability. It features a three-way adjustable column, which Renault claims offers class-leading movement. This is welcome, seeing as the limited movement on the previous generation was considered a weak point by some drivers.

Like the rest of Renault Trucks’ line-up, the E-Tech T retains its conventional mirrors for now. However, it’s inevitable that Renault will eventually follow in the footsteps of its sister company Volvo and adopt a camera and screen replacement system. Where Renault steals a lead over Volvo is with its keyless stop/start feature. In contrast, both the FM and FH Electric from Volvo necessitate turning a physical key to initiate the truck’s operation.

Exclusive to the E-Tech T are striking accents of blue and red adorning the cab, extending to the door cards for a cohesive design touch.It’s fair to say the Echo Diamond looks like nothing else on the road, on account of its unique paintwork, which lights up when subjected to an electric stimulus.

The self-proclaimed ‘World’s coolest truck’ not only celebrates Renault Trucks’ first electric tractor unit, but its 130th anniversary too. 

Beneath all that razzmatazz is a regular T tab, albeit it with one significant difference. Unlike its diesel-propelled equivalents, the E-Tech T features a nose, which protrudes by 115mm. This gives the truck a slight aerodynamic advantage, and more importantly allows it to take advantage of the latest EU masses and dimensions regulations. While this 4x2 version has a 3,900mm wheelbase, 6x2 variants are longer, and require this frontal extension to comply with length regulations.

Looking around the truck’s exterior, other obvious differences are the side skirts and fold-down catwalk access steps, which are a Volvo Group product. Whereas you can cut steps into a diesel tank, this isn’t possible with a battery, hence the need for this set-up. The CCS charging inlet is located on the right-hand-side.

Hidden behind the skirts are six 90kWh lithiumion battery packs, providing 540kWh of power. It’s also available with four batteries (360kW). These are assembled at Volvo Group’s Ghent factory, using cells supplied by Samsung. They power a choice of two or three electric machines (three in the case of this truck), developing a combined power of up to 330kW (450hp) and 490kW (666hp) respectively. They are matched to a 12-speed Optidriver transmission.

It takes 2.5 hours to fully charge an E-Tech T using a 250kW DC charger, achieving up to 300km on a single charge, and 500km after a one-hour long top-up charge (20% to 80%). This truck, which is running at 32.6 tonnes, has averaged a consumption rate of 1.2kw/km during its European roadshow. 

In addition to tractor units, the E-Tech T is available as a 4x2 and 6x2 rigid, with 11 wheelbases ranging from 3,900 to 6,700mm. The truck we’re about to drive is coupled to a tandem-axle Fruehauf urban trailer, which features a steering rear axle. It is the perfect set-up for a tractor that’s aimed squarely at regional distribution and hub-to-hub logistics.

The tractor is running on Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels clad with Bridgestone Ecopia 2 tyres.

Our only previous experience with Renault’s mediumrange electric tractor unit was at its European launch at the Solutrans Show in Lyon last November, where we were permitted two minutes behind the wheel in a car park. This time we can take it for a proper run in and around Glasgow.

Upon activating the start button and disengaging the electric handbrake (which only requires manual deactivation after the door has been opened), we effortlessly manoeuvre out of the dealership, navigate through the industrial estate, and merge onto a dualcarriageway. The standout feature we immediately notice about this truck is its innovative indicators. A light touch triggers a three-flash sequence, while a firmer push activates continuous flashing until it is manually cancelled or the steering wheel is realigned. But now for the really clever part – when you switch lanes on a motorway or dual-carriageway, the indicators self-cancel when you arrive in your new lane. This intuitive feature synchronises with the lane departure system, and as far as we are aware is a first for a truck.

From an operator’s perspective, the challenges of running electric trucks are abundant, ranging from the high purchase price to the inadequacies of the charging infrastructure. However, when viewed through the eyes of a driver, this truck presents an entirely different narrative – one of pure delight.

As soon as we grasp the wheel, a wave of familiarity and ease washes over us. Much like our experiences with other electric tractors, the power delivery is seamless, gearchanges are instantaneous and barely noticeable, and cruising in near-silence is a highly rated sensation.

Rapidly, we adeptly handle the three-stage machine brake, effortlessly transitioning into a one-pedal driving rhythm for most of our journey. Its performance on open roads is commendable, with well-weighted steering and a comfortable ride courtesy of the air-suspension. However, it’s when we navigate the bustling streets of Glasgow that this truck really shines. It gracefully makes its way through the city with a serene quietness. Paired with the purposebuilt Fruehauf trailer, we effortlessly execute tight manoeuvres, further underscoring the truck’s prowess in urban environments.

We said at the start that Renault had gone out of its way to ensure the E-Tech T stood out from the crowd, but we don’t reckon it needed to. This is a highly competent electric tractor and is certainly one of the best we have experienced so far. It combines a triedand-tested driveline with French design flair, and from a driver’s perspective ticks all the boxes.

- This article was previoulsy published in Commercial Motor, to subscribe see the latest Commercial Motor subscription offer