Renault Trucks to improve ergonomics and efficiency of electric trucks in project DOLPHIN
Renault Trucks leads the DOLPHIN project (Development Original truck Lab for PHysical INtegration) with a consortium of industrial and academic research partners based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The consortium comprises Lamberet, a manufacturer of refrigerated semi-trailers; SafetyTech, a specialist in driving comfort and safety solutions; the Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides et d’Acoustique; the Laboratoire Ampère, the Laboratoire de Mécanique des Contacts et des Structures, supervised by the INSA (National Institute of Applied Sciences), among others; and the Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive, directed by Clermont Auvergne University.
The partners list energy and environmental optimisation, safety for road users, ergonomics and onboard comfort as a research focus. The latter will result in a spcialised cockpit as shown in the rendering. Renault Trucks also mentions wanting to test new mobile applications that enable the optimised management of bodywork equipment.
The manufacturer adds that the DOLPHIN project was “a way of preparing its future generations of electric trucks by exploring and advancing the maturity of new technologies”.
Production of the demo vehicle is scheduled to start in spring 2024. Where remains to be clarified. Renault Trucks has been making trucks for nearly 60 years in Bourg-en-Bresse and reportedly started assembling the new 44-t electric trucks there in November of this year. Bourg-en-Bresse is in the same region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where the new project is located.
Project DOLPHIN has received funding from the French government as part of France 2030 and the European Union – Next Generation EU as part of the France Relance plan. The partners have yet to disclose the budget.
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