Renault Trucks has introduced two new long-distance electric tractor units, the E-Tech T 585 and E-Tech T 780, with claimed single-charge ranges that move battery-electric haulage closer to everyday use. The T 780 carries 780 kWh of NCA batteries and is quoted at up to 600 km depending on load and conditions. The T 585 uses a 585 kWh pack and is quoted at around 460 km.
Both models are being built at the company’s Bourg-en-Bresse plant in France, which has produced Renault Trucks’ heavy electric range since late 2023. Orders are open now.
600km range on a charge
A truck covering 500 to 600 km in a shift sits within the pattern of many European long-haul routes, particularly when combined with the mandatory 45-minute rest break every four and a half hours. The question has always been whether an electric artic could carry enough energy to make that work without sacrificing too much payload.
Renault Trucks has tried to address that by reorganising the powertrain. The new models use an integrated electric axle that moves the motors and transmission to the rear, freeing up chassis space for additional L-shaped battery modules. Using high-energy-density NCA cells reduces the mass penalty and allows the trucks to carry larger pack sizes.
The result is two options. The T 585, focused on payload, and the T 780, focused on range. Both are 6×2 tractors with liftable, steerable rear axles and full air suspension.
Charging and day-to-day operation
Both trucks support Megawatt Charging System hardware at up to 720 kW. Renault Trucks says that, at a suitable site, this can recover roughly 350 km in a 45-minute break. Depot charging remains via CCS at up to 350 kW.
Charging infrastructure will be the limiting factor in many regions, but the trucks are built to take advantage of high-power charging as it becomes more widely available.
The T 585 can run at up to 28 tonnes of payload depending on national rules. The 6×2 layout and steerable axle are intended to make these tractors behave more like a 4×2 when manoeuvring, while the lift axle helps reduce tyre wear on light-load return legs.
Support and million kilometre warranty
Renault Trucks pairs the hardware with route-planning and fleet-management tools through its Optifleet platform. It also offers a first-year support package covering operation, monitoring and driver assistance, along with a consultancy service to help operators assess routes, site power and charging needs.
The battery is covered by an eight-year or one-million-kilometre performance guarantee.
Pushing into practical territory
These trucks do not remove the need for planning, nor do they solve the uneven availability of megawatt charging. But they do push battery-electric long haul into more practical territory.
A truck with around 600 km of potential range and rapid charging at rest stops is far easier to integrate into a working fleet than the early-generation models that relied heavily on depot-only charging and short regional loops.
For hauliers looking at decarbonisation options, the E-Tech T 585 and T 780 show that long-distance electric haulage is starting to look workable for more routes, provided the infrastructure keeps pace.
