French commercial truck manufacturer Renault Trucks has signed a contract with Danish brewer Carlsberg Group to deliver 20 electric trucks for use by the brewer’s Swiss subsidiary, the Feldschlösschen brewery.
Renault Trucks, owned by the Swedish multinational giant Volvo Group, announced on Wednesday that it would deliver this year 20 of its D Wide Z.E 100% electric 28-tonne trucks to the Carlsberg Group.
The D Wide Z.E boasts two electric motors with a total rating of 370 kW and 260 kW continuous output, a two-speed gear box, and is powered by 200 kWh lithium ion battery pack providing a range of up to 200 kilometres and a 100% charge time of between one to two hours via a CCS plug with 150 kW charging power.
“It is the first order of this scale in Europe,” said Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks in a statement.
“It proves to our customers that the transport sector is undergoing a majortransformation and reflects an industrial and commercial reality: our Renault Trucks electric trucks are rolling off the assembly line and will be on the roads of Europe in a few weeks’ time.”
The trucks will be operated by the Feldschlösschen brewery in Switzerland, making delivery rounds of between 100 km and 200 km from the brewer’s 15 Swiss logistical sites.
News of the deal between Renault and Carlsberg was made a day after the brewer announced that it had cut its carbon emissions by 30% since 2015, secured 56% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, and now boasts five carbon-neutral sites which are running 100% on renewable energy.
The company has also cut coal usage by 89% by weight since 2015 and achieved a 12% reduction in relative water consumption.
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved since launching Together Towards ZERO,” said Cees’t Hart, CEO, Carlsberg Group in a statement.
“By working with leading global experts and strong local partners, we’ve reduced relative carbon emissions by 30% and water usage by 12% since 2015. Collaboration will become even more important as we approach our 2030 ambitions.
“Nobody can solve the sustainability challenges the world faces alone. That’s why we called our programme ‘Together’ Towards ZERO. By working in partnerships, we’re able to make faster progress and deliver change that would otherwise not be possible.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.