Image: Renault TrucksThe Volvo Group brands Renault Trucks and Volvo Trucks are approaching the market launch of their next-generation electric truck range. Both manufacturers are introducing new long-haul models this year while also rolling out extensively updated vehicles for regional and interregional distribution operations. The two brands draw on a common modular platform developed by the Volvo Group, resulting in sister models with largely identical drivetrains. Yet despite these technical similarities, their published performance figures—and the way the two manufacturers communicate them—have recently begun to diverge noticeably, at least at first glance.The timeline is as follows: both Renault Trucks and Volvo Trucks initially announced new long-haul electric trucks with a range of up to 600 kilometres. Renault Trucks then moved first, unveiling its E-Tech T 780 at Solutrans in Lyon in November 2025, ahead of its traditionally trailblazing Swedish sister brand. The company presented the model as its new flagship, capable of travelling up to 600 kilometres on a single charge. The headline figure was based on a 780 kWh NCA battery pack with a usable energy content of 623 kWh, equivalent to 80 per cent of the gross capacity.Volvo Trucks, meanwhile, continued to develop its offering. When it presented the FH Aero Electric this spring, the manufacturer unexpectedly raised the previously communicated range figure from ‘up to 600 kilometres’ to ‘up to 700 kilometres,’ despite what appeared to be the same battery configuration. The explanation followed in early June: Volvo Trucks had decided to unlock significantly more of the battery’s capacity, increasing the usable energy content to 725 kWh. That represents around 100 kWh more net capacity than originally planned and largely explains the substantial increase in the vehicle’s claimed range. Here are the details.Renault Trucks releases up to 95% of battery capacityRenault Trucks had nevertheless continued to use its previously announced figures in official communications—at least across its manufacturer websites—until recently. In a statement shared with electrive, the French company has now confirmed that the E-Tech T 780’s official range has increased from ‘up to 600 kilometres’ to ‘up to 660 kilometres.’The reason is a larger usable battery window. As Renault Trucks explains: “Renault Trucks has extended the batteries’ operating window, enabling up to 95% of their energy capacity to be utilised. As a result, the energy effectively available for propulsion has increased, extending the Renault Trucks E-Tech T’s maximum single-charge range to 660 km.”A closer look at the figures reveals an interesting detail. If 95 per cent of the 780 kWh battery capacity is made available, the usable energy content rises to around 741 kWh. That is even higher than the 725 kWh net capacity communicated by Volvo Trucks, which corresponds to roughly 93 per cent of the battery’s gross capacity. Despite this, Renault Trucks still quotes a maximum range that is 40 kilometres lower than Volvo’s.When asked by electrive about the difference, Renault Trucks attributed it to ‘the aerodynamics of the driver’s cab.’ Images of the two vehicles support this explanation. While the tractor units themselves are largely identical, the cab designs differ. The Volvo FH Aero Electric features extended side and roof spoilers designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency, whereas comparable elements do not appear to be fitted to the Renault Trucks E-Tech T 780. Image: Renault Trucks Image: Renault Trucks Image: Renault Trucks Image: Renault Trucks Image: Renault TrucksThe comparison suggests that both Volvo Group brands are now making significantly more of their battery capacity available for use, while differences in aerodynamic efficiency continue to influence the final range figures.Renault Trucks has also updated several other technical specifications. The charging performance of the E-Tech T 780 remains unchanged at up to 350 kW via CCS and up to 720 kW via MCS. However, the manufacturer says charging times increase by ‘around 10%’ because of the larger usable battery window.Previously, Renault Trucks quoted a charging time of 40 minutes via MCS and one hour and ten minutes via CCS for a charge from 20 to 80 per cent state of charge. Based on the revised battery utilisation, these figures rise to approximately 44 minutes for MCS charging and close to one hour and 20 minutes for CCS charging.The third revision compared with the specifications announced at the world premiere concerns the battery warranty. Renault Trucks initially offered coverage for up to eight years or one million kilometres. The manufacturer has now aligned its standard warranty with that of Volvo Trucks, providing coverage for six years or 720,000 kilometres.Customers can, however, purchase an optional ‘Serenity Pack’ that extends the warranty to up to 10 years or one million kilometres. The extended coverage is subject to energy throughput limits. As Renault Trucks told electrive, the ‘Serenity Pack’ warranty applies ‘within a limit of total energy delivered of 1,600 MWh for the E-Tech T 780 and 1,200 MWh for the E-Tech T 585 and E-Tech T 540.’Derivative E-Tech T 585 also achieves greater rangeThe updates are not limited to the E-Tech T 780. Renault Trucks has also revised the figures for the E-Tech T 585, which uses a slightly smaller battery and therefore offers a higher payload. Its official range has increased from 460 to 500 kilometres. The second-generation E-Tech T 540, meanwhile, retains its previously announced range of 450 kilometres.The E-Tech T 780 and E-Tech T 585 represent Renault Trucks’ new generation of electric long-haul trucks. Both feature an e-axle and, for payload reasons, are offered exclusively in a 6×2 configuration with a steerable trailing axle.The existing model range, which has also been updated, continues to use a conventional propshaft layout. However, Renault Trucks has introduced an improved central drive system and continues to offer a wider range of axle configurations, including the standard 4×2 as well as 6×2, 6×4 and other variants.electrive recently examined the drivetrain concepts and payload differences between these configurations during the world premiere of the corresponding Volvo Trucks models.The key takeaway is that the Volvo Group and its truck brands are pushing the usable capacity of their nickel-based battery systems well beyond the 90 per cent mark. With more than 700 kWh of net energy available on board, Volvo Trucks and Renault Trucks now set a new benchmark for usable battery capacity in series-production electric trucks.A comparison with competitors highlights the scale of the achievement. Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 offers 600 kWh of usable capacity from its LFP battery pack, while MAN quotes 560 kWh net for its long-haul electric trucks. Even Chinese manufacturer Sany, which emphasises that it makes 98 per cent of its installed LFP battery capacity available for use, reaches a net capacity of 623 kWh.Brands highlight their collective expertiseNeither Volvo Trucks nor Renault Trucks considers this approach particularly risky, and both manufacturers use remarkably similar arguments to justify the higher usable battery capacities.Volvo Trucks highlighted its extensive experience with the cell chemistry earlier this month. “We have tested extensively and continuously,” Niklas Andersson told electrive at the world premiere in Gothenburg. “And we have concluded that we can safely release more capacity. It works.” According to Andersson, the increase in range is not solely the result of a larger usable battery window. Additional improvements, including enhanced battery monitoring and software optimisation, also play a role. “We have much better control over the cells,” he said.Renault Trucks makes a similar case. The manufacturer says its latest optimisations are based on operational data gathered from more than 3,500 electric Renault Trucks in service. According to the company, ‘these vehicles have collectively covered more than 130 million kilometres under real-world conditions.’ Renault Trucks argues that this experience has provided the confidence needed to expand the usable battery window while maintaining reliability and durability.renault-trucks.com