Startup Converts Old Diesel Trucks into Electric Haulers

You don't require a specific permit to operate the modified vehicle, but there's a drawback.

A French company named Neo Trucks is transforming old diesel vehicles into electric ones.
A new company collaborated with Renault Trucks to acquire pre-owned trucks from Renault that lacked engines and transmissions.
An electric motor and a battery pack are subsequently placed where the old powertrain was located.

Diesel vehicles will not disappear anytime soon, but as The electric vehicle passenger market keeps expanding. So do the number of businesses that are open to making changes.

Introducing Neo Trucks, a modest French company founded in 2020 that converts outdated diesel long-distance trucks into electric models. This approach lowers expenses when compared to purchasing an entirely new electric vehicle, yet there is another crucial factor to keep in mind.

Neo Trucks' modifications are not intended to return older diesel vehicles to long-distance transportation, but instead to use them within enclosed areas such as shipyards and distribution hubs.

A new company collaborated with Renault Trucks to repurchase T-series tractor units once their leasing agreements conclude. Renault dismantles the engine and transmission components and sends the remaining parts to Neo Trucks, where the refurbishment process starts.

An individual electric motor producing 174 horsepower (130 kilowatts) drives the rear wheels, while a flexible battery unit is positioned between the frame rails. This isn’t much power, yet the motor compensates with significant torque, according to a representative from Neo Trucks. Electric Trucker video below.

Batteries can provide between 60 and 120 kilowatt-hours of power, using a modular system built around a 12 kWh module. Adding more modules together increases overall storage capability. This level of performance meets the requirements of the adapted trucks, which are intended for use within yards at a top speed of 15 miles per hour (25 kilometers per hour).

Certain taxis are customized to enhance the driver's convenience, such as incorporating an entry point at the rear of the cabin, enabling the driver to enter and exit without repeatedly opening and closing the standard door. Additionally, these vehicles do not require registration, meaning they lack a license plate, and the operator isn't required to hold a specific commercial vehicle permit since they aren't used on public roads. Moreover, the fifth wheel can lift as much as 31 inches (80 centimeters), allowing drivers to attach trailers without needing to descend to adjust the support legs.

Retrofitted vehicles can draw as much as 80 kW from a DC fast charging station, yet thanks to an integrated onboard charger, drivers can alternatively connect directly to standard electrical outlets, providing a maximum power intake of 22 kW.

This is certainly a specialized item, but it's reassuring to witness that older diesel trucks can continue performing effectively with an updated, environmentally friendly engine system.

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