Renault Trucks is developing an all-electric truck lab, DOLPHIN, which aims to pave the way for a future generation of electric trucks for long-distance transport.
DOLPHIN stands for Development Original truck Lab for PHysical INtegration. It is a joint project between Renault Trucks and a consortium of industrial and academic research partners in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The consortium includes Lamberet, a manufacturer of refrigerated trailers; SafetyTech, a specialist in comfort and safety solutions for commercial vehicles; the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics; the Ampere Laboratories and the Laboratory of Mechanics of Contacts and Structures; and the Laboratory of Social Psychology at the University of Clermont-Overgne.
The aim of the joint project is to create a demonstration vehicle based on an all-electric lorry to test and evaluate technological innovations in three research areas:
- Energy and environmental optimisation, focusing on both the aerodynamics of the electric vehicle and the energy efficiency of the entire fleet.
- Safety of road users by integrating specialised systems to better detect dangerous situations.
- Improved ergonomics and driving comfort through an innovative dashboard and new interior elements focused on driver comfort.
In addition, new mobile applications are being tested to optimise the operation of the construction equipment.
Production of the Renault DOLPHIN lab truck is scheduled to start in spring 2024.
Source: Renault Trucks
