Renault Trucks’ Diamond Echo E-Tech T electric truck has brought its European roadshow to a close in Finnish Lapland, successfully operating in temperatures as low as -19°C.
Since leaving the manufacturer’s headquarters in Lyon last April, the E-Tech T Diamond Echo – an electric and electroluminescent truck – has covered 23,000 kilometres in Europe.
It was driven through France, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany, completing daily stages of up to 700 km due to optimised management of intermediate charging.
The longest distance accomplished by this E-Tech T on a single charge was 360 km, on a single journey between Switzerland and Germany.
On arrival in Finland this month, the E-Tech T covered 1,600 kilometres between Helsinki and Rovaniemi in Lapland, including a 250 km stage on a single charge and a day culminating in 700 km, with two intermediate charges.
In these severe climatic conditions, with temperatures falling to -19°C, the electric truck kept up performance levels comparable to those of diesel trucks.
The cold caused a slight increase in consumption – between 10 and 15% – mainly due to common factors affecting all types of powertrains, such as aerodynamics and winter tyres.
Régis Pierrelle, Director of Electromobility Operations at Renault Trucks said: “The tests carried out in Finland have confirmed that electric trucks remain fully operational, even in tough winter conditions.
“Contrary to popular belief, we didn’t encounter any problems related to range, charging availability or charging times.
“One of our customers in Finland even told us that, on a -30°C day last winter, the only truck in his fleet that started up was a Renault Trucks electric model. The diesel trucks were grounded because of the crystallisation of AdBlue.”
