Geodis, Renault to test Oxygen urban electric truck
GEODIS announced the start of a trial phase for Oxygen, the urban electric truck developed in a partnership with Renault Trucks that began in 2022. This test phase, which aims to prove the effectiveness of this new solution, will take place in Paris and Lyon between September and December 2024.
Against the backdrop of rapid growth in urban logistics, GEODIS is contributing to the development of solutions adapted to the urban environment through its ongoing partnership with Renault Trucks, established in 2022. The goal of the project is to develop Oxygen, an urban electric truck featuring the latest technologies, including integrated screens, a connected driver station and the use of artificial intelligence to improve the safety of the driver and other city center users, while meeting the demands of freight transport and addressing environmental challenges.
The test phase got under way on September 9 in the center of Lyon and will run until October 4, before moving on to Paris from October 21 to November 22. It consists of using this vehicle, developed specifically for downtown deliveries, in real-life conditions for an evaluation of its success and advantages.
This experiment will be followed by a phase of analysis of the vehicle’s on-board features, taking account of feedback from drivers (comfort of use, convenience, recharging, etc.) and fleet managers.
Renault Trucks and GEODIS have for many years been pooling their industrial, logistics and engineering know-how to design this electric truck for urban logistics. A partnership was formally established in 2022, enabling this 16-tonne vehicle to come to be produced.
Sébastien Faivre, Technical and Performance Director of the Distribution & Express Line of Business at GEODIS, said: “Addressing the urgent need to protect the environment and the booming volume of logistics flows, particularly in cities, GEODIS has been heavily committed to the decarbonization of transport for several years now. We are now proud to be stepping up our partnership with Renault Trucks with the launch of this test phase in Paris and Lyon. We hope that these tests will prove fruitful, so that we can continue to introduce other concrete solutions for sustainable urban logistics.”
Guillaume Fouré, Chief Project Manager for the Oxygen project at Renault Trucks, said: “Real-life testing of a transport solution designed for the city alongside an expert in urban delivery like GEODIS will enable us to advance together in understanding this complex ecosystem and to provide solutions fully adapted to it.”
The development of this urban electric truck project forms part of a broader, ambitious decarbonization strategy undertaken by GEODIS. The Group has been committed for a long time to working alongside its customers and partners to measure and reduce its impact on customers. It has now completed the updating of its commitments in line with a Science Based Targets (SBT) approach covering its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. In this context, GEODIS will be capable of using low-carbon solutions for deliveries in 100 French conurbations by the end of 2024. The Group currently operates a fleet of over 100 electric vehicles.