Renault Trucks electrifies key inter-plant logistics corridor
The corridor operates on a just-in-time basis, supplying components directly to assembly lines without interruption. Heavy-duty cabs produced at Blainville-sur-Orne are transported to Bourg-en-Bresse for assembly, while engines and axles manufactured in Lyon are delivered to Blainville-sur-Orne for integration into medium-duty trucks. According to Renault Trucks, ‘this strategic logistics flow is now covered almost entirely by 100% electric trucks.’
To support the operation, Renault Trucks and Malherbe have deployed a fleet of 22 Renault Trucks E-Tech T battery-electric vehicles. Eleven trucks operate on the northern loop between Blainville, Vironvay and Auxerre, while a further eleven serve the southern loop linking Auxerre, Mâcon, Bourg-en-Bresse and Lyon. The system relies on relay operations, with tractors, drivers and trailers swapped at defined points to keep freight moving continuously. As a result, individual electric trucks cover daily distances of up to 810 kilometres on the northern loop and 704 kilometres on the southern loop, without stopping the load.
The logistics flow has been fine-tuned to maximise vehicle utilisation and maintain continuity. Trucks depart from Malherbe’s Vironvay depot carrying engines and axles from Lyon to Blainville-sur-Orne, before returning loaded with truck cabs. Tractor and driver changes take place at Vironvay, Auxerre and Mâcon, while batteries are recharged during driver rest periods. Malherbe has invested in its own charging infrastructure at strategic locations along the corridor to support the operation.
All stages have been designed to allow electric trucks to operate for up to 18 hours per day while keeping drivers within a limited radius of their home base. Renault Trucks states that implementing a fully electric solution for this critical inter-plant flow demonstrates the operational maturity of its electric trucks and results in an annual reduction of 2,869 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
The move builds on the decarbonisation of axle transport between Lyon and Bourg-en-Bresse one year ago. There, five E-Tech T 4×2 haul some 22 tonnes of equipment from Lyon to the truck factory some 80 kilometres away. Each electric truck completes two round-trips of 180 km, thus covering 360 km per day or 88,000 km per year.
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