Renault sells electric for cities, but backs diesel for long-haul

Colin Barnett
June 17, 2019

Renault is set to become the first to deliver full-electric trucks to UK customers.

Renault Trucks UK managing director Carlos Rodrigues, speaking at a press conference to outline the company’s plans in the UK and globally, confirmed that orders for the Range D Wide ZE will be accepted in the final quarter of this year for delivery early in 2020. This timing should allow it to steal a march on Daimler, whose Fuso e-Canter seems to have been delayed, much to the frustration of dealers who are unable to satisfy the considerable interest for electric power. In any event, the Renault, available up to 26 tonnes GVW, is a rather different product to the 7.5-tonne Fuso. Rodrigues said “these are not prototypes, they are proper working vehicles, now”.

The first handover of a Range D Wide ZE to a customer is due to take place on Wednesday, when the Lyon Metropole is to take delivery of one. This follows a couple of years of real-world operational trials by companies including the luxury goods supplier Guerlain, making night-time deliveries to 15 stores in Paris, and Lyon-based fresh seafood and produce wholesaler Delanchy, carrying goods between its distribution hub outside the city and the giant Les Halles market.

At the end of the press conference, Renault Trucks’ Europe president, Jean-Claude Bailly, and UK MD Carlos Rodrigues, presented Kent County Council with the keys of the first Master ZE, a wheelchair-accessible minibus which will be operated by the charity Compaid, to be delivered to a paying customer in Europe. Another 12 Master ZEs are on order and will be delivered within the next four weeks.

Despite Renault’s progress in alternative fuels – it also provides gas-powered trucks that provide 70% of the refuse collection in Paris, for example, the company is in no doubt where the future of long-haul transport lies. Jean-Claude Bailly says “We strongly believe that diesel is, and will stay, the solution for long-distance, and not only for the next two, three, four or five years, but longer than that.” He cited the reasons as the combination of emissions, fuel consumption and operating profitability.

 

About the Author

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Colin Barnett

Colin Barnett has been involved in the road transport industry since becoming an apprentice truck mechanic and worked on Commercial Motor for 27 years

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