Renault Trucks has concluded its European roadshow with winter testing of its E-Tech T Diamond Echo electric truck in Finnish Lapland, where the vehicle operated in temperatures as low as -19°C. The final leg comprised a 1,600-kilometre journey between Helsinki and Rovaniemi.
The electric truck, which began its journey in Lyon last April, covered 23,000 kilometres across multiple European countries, including France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. During the tour, the vehicle achieved a maximum single-charge range of 360 kilometres between Switzerland and Germany, while completing daily routes of up to 700 kilometres using intermediate charging stops.
Régis Pierrelle, director of electromobility operations at Renault Trucks, shared insights from the Finnish trials: “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.”
The cold weather testing revealed that the vehicle’s energy consumption increased by 10-15% in sub-zero conditions, primarily due to factors affecting all vehicles, such as aerodynamics and winter tyres. The cabin heating system showed minimal impact on the vehicle’s range, which Pierrelle attributed to the truck’s programmable pre-heating system.
“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,” Pierrelle noted.
During its Finnish deployment, the E-Tech T Diamond Echo completed a 250km journey on a single charge and achieved a 700km day with two charging stops. The winter testing programme marks the conclusion of Renault Trucks’ year-long demonstration of its electric vehicle capabilities across Europe.
