Renault Trucks and Geodis to launch electric 16t delivery truck

Renault Trucks will develop a 16-tonne electric urban delivery truck in partnership with logistics firm Geodis.

A prototype vehicle is expected to be ready by the end of 2022, with series production planned for Renault Truck’s plant in France.

The truck, which is known as the ‘Oxygen’ project, will begin trials in Paris, in 2023. Renault Trucks and Geodis will then optimise the vehicle, based on feedback from drivers and then by a study to optimize the total cost of ownership.

It is expected that the new vehicle will deliver a total cost of ownership that is comparable to a diesel vehicle.

Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks, said: “We have noticed that the image of the truck is changing; at last it is being perceived as an indispensable tool. The purpose of the Oxygen project is to design a truck that will seamlessly blend into the urban landscape, among other road users in areas with traffic and even in pedestrian zones.

“This new truck will be designed for the driver’s working comfort and safety, and for the safety of city dwellers.”

The truck will feature a lowered cab and a large windshield, with multiple cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, offering the driver a 360-degree view.

Drivers will be able to get out of the truck on either side and entry will be made easier by a much lower access height than on a standard delivery truck. A sliding side door on the passenger side will restrict the door opening angle.

Marie-Christine Lombard, chief executive officer of Geodis, added: “The environmental emergency combined with the growth of e-Commerce and the implementation of low-emission zones in major French cities mean that we urgently need to step up the decarbonization of transport. This is the objective of Geodis in forming this partnership with Renault Trucks. We want to quickly provide concrete answers to the issue of sustainable urban logistics.”