Jumbo to test Renault Trucks Oxygen prototype in Amsterdam

Renault Trucks’ prototype for a safer, fully electric low-entry delivery truck, Oxygen, is entering a new test phase. After starting trials in Lyon and Paris, the French truck manufacturer has signed a partnership with Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo and its transport supplier SVZ to test the Oxygen prototype in Amsterdam.

The Renault Trucks Oxygen is a working prototype meant to explore the possible advantages of a fully electric truck for city delivery work. It features ergonomic and safety improvements for both the driver and the surrounding traffic, such as a low-entry cab, a large windshield, 360° cameras, a sliding door on the passenger side to avoid the risk of collisions with pedestrians and cyclists, and a redesigned interior. The Oxygen truck was designed in partnership with Geodis.

Preparing for zero-emission zones

The prototype started testing in Paris in 2023, followed by a subsequent project in Nice. The Netherlands’ second largest supermarket chain, Jumbo, will now test another Oxygen prototype in the Netherlands in collaboration with transport partner SVZ.

From 1 January 2025, Dutch municipalities can designate zero-emission zones, meaning electric delivery trucks will become crucial for supplying stores in city centers.

Wilko Maas, Fleet Manager at Jumbo Supermarkets, explains: “At Jumbo, we aim to be CO2 neutral by 2030. We expect more cities like Amsterdam to assign zero-emission zones toward 2025. Last-mile delivery will be essential to continue supplying our stores with as clean and safe as possible. The Oxygen pilot will give us the needed experience and readiness for the future.”

Another innovation for this trial project in Amsterdam is that this Renault Trucks Oxygen will be a refrigerated truck, relying on its electrical system to keep temperatures low in the cargo space, rather than a traditional separate diesel generator. The experiment will last six months and will start in October 2024.