Electric Trucks for Freight Transport in Inner Cities

Renault Trucks and Geodis are pooling their logistics and technical expertise to plan an electric truck for freight transport in inner cities. The aim is to develop a new electric 16-tonne truck at a similar cost to a diesel vehicle.

Emission regulations, entry restrictions, a variety of mobility modes (cargo bikes, bicycles, e-scooters) - urban freight transport is undergoing profound changes and evolving. In this context, Renault Trucks and Geodis are now combining their expertise in a joint project: the development of an electrically powered 16-tonne truck. 

»In view of the environmental urgency and the growth of e-commerce and the establishment of low emission zones in major French cities, the decarbonisation of transport must be accelerated. This is the goal of Geodis and its partnership with Renault Trucks. In terms of sustainable urban logistics, we want to provide quick and concrete answers,« says Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of Geodis.

Bruno Blin, President of Renault Trucks, adds: »The Oxygen project, carried out jointly by Renault Trucks and Geodis, aims to develop a truck that blends seamlessly into the urban landscape. This new truck was designed with the driver's working comfort, his safety and that of city dwellers in mind.«

A truck that fits perfectly into the cityscape

The vehicle, running under the project name Oxygen, is being jointly developed and takes into account all the constraints and uses of urban delivery traffic: no pollution and noise, and an improvement in active and passive safety to better manage the coexistence of all road users.

The following aspects are the focus of the Oxygen project: 

• More safety for the driver and city dwellers through a lowered cabin that provides the driver with excellent direct visibility to best protect road users; a large windscreen; a camera-based mirror replacement system; a sliding side door on the passenger side.
• More comfort by exiting on the right or left side. A significantly lower entry height compared to a standard distribution truck facilitates frequent entry and exit. 
• Optimum ergonomics and better access to the cab. Cooperation with body manufacturers is planned to improve loading and unloading operations in urban areas.
• Networked instruments that allow the driver to simplify logistical operations and optimise his routes.
• Renault Trucks designers have also completely redesigned the truck's exterior lines and the interior of the cab with the aim of perfectly integrating this vehicle into the urban landscape and for greater comfort and appreciation for the driver.

Delivery of the prototype produced at Renault Trucks' French plant in Blainville-sur-Orne is scheduled for the end of 2022. From 2023, testing of the truck for urban delivery traffic in Paris is planned.

This test, carried out under real conditions, will then be followed by a vehicle adaptation phase involving driver feedback (comfort of use, practicality, recharging). This will be followed by a study to optimise the total cost of ownership.