Renault has invested more money into transport solutions with its collaborative DOLPHIN project
Renault Trucks has announced that it is continuing to invest in research in transport solutions as it looks to offer increasingly efficient, low-carbon vehicles that can adapt to changes in the transport industry.
Through its collaborative Development Original Truck Lab for Physical Integration (DOLPHIN) project, Renault says it is set to develop an electric laboratory vehicle to pave the way for the future generation of electric long-haulage trucks.
The project is being led by Renault with a consortium of industrial and academic research partners based in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region.
The consortium includes refrigerated semi-trailer manufacturer Lamberet, driver comfort and safety solutions company SafetyTech, three laboratories from the National Institute of Applied Science in Lyon as well as a laboratoryfrom Clermont Auvergne University.
Renault says the aim of the project is to assess the potential for technological innovation in terms of energy and environmental optimisation, safety, ergonomics and on-board comfort.
The project also aims to build a demonstration vehicle, based on an all-electric truck, to test and evaluate technological innovations in three areas of research.
The areas of research include energy and environmental optimisation, safety for road users plus ergonomics and on-board comfort. New mobile applications enabling optimised management of bodywork equipment will also be tested.
Renault says the DOLPHIN project is a way of preparing its future generations of electric trucks by exploring and advancing the maturity of new technologies. Production of the truck will start in Autumn next year.
Renault says the project is the winner of an automotive and mobility research award, which it says supports innovation projects that will accelerate the transition to the vehicle of the future.
The project has also been funded by the French government as part of the France 2030 and by the European Union – Next Generation EU as part of its France Relance Plan.