Renault’s 600 Km Electric Trucks Challenge Diesel’s Long-Haul Dominance

Renault Trucks is throwing down the gauntlet to diesel with its latest lineup of electric vehicles. The E-Tech T 780 is finally making electric trucks a real option for long-haul transport, not just some green fantasy. With a beefy 780 kWh battery capacity, these trucks can cruise for 600 km on a single charge. That’s actually usable. The secret sauce? High-energy-density NCA lithium-ion batteries with a quirky L-shape design that maximizes space.

These aren’t your grandpa’s slow-charging EVs either. The trucks are compatible with ultra-fast Megawatt Charging System technology, pumping juice at up to 720 kW. From 20% to 80% in about an hour using 250 kW chargers. Not bad for a coffee break.

Renault’s battery game is solid. The NCA chemistry packs serious energy density, and they’re backing it with guarantees up to 8 years or a million kilometers. Yeah, a million. The clever electric axle design integrates motors and transmission at the rear, freeing up precious real estate for extra batteries. Smart move.

For city slickers, there’s the E-Tech D12 and D14 models. Smaller, sure, but still packing a punch with 176 kWh LFP batteries giving 220 km range. The E-Tech T 585 model offers a more payload-focused alternative while still delivering a respectable 460 km range. Perfect for urban deliveries. Full air suspension makes them comfy, and they can turn on a dime – under 7.3 meters radius. Try that with your diesel dinosaur.

Charging flexibility is key to the whole operation. The trucks work with standard CCS charging up to 350 kW and MCS for the big boys. AC charging works too, with 43 kW onboard chargers for the medium-duty models. Hauliers have already saved an impressive 29,000 tonnes of CO₂ through 30 million kilometers of real-world operation with these electric workhorses. The continuing battery storage costs decrease of 52% expected by 2030 will only make these electric trucks more economically competitive against traditional diesel options.

The timing couldn’t be better with zero-emission regulations looming for trucks up to 26 tonnes. Diesel’s long-haul dominance is finally facing a worthy challenger. It’s about damn time.