Milence says the hub will be “strategically located” for heavy-duty hauliers travelling between Paris and key settlements in Normandy, including Le Havre, Caen, Dieppe, and Rouen.

‘Renault Trucks City’ – a service outlet operated by the company’s dealership in the nearby commune of Corbas – will provide maintenance and repair services for medium-duty trucks and light commercial vehicles operated by its customers in the local area.

In the heavy vehicle segment, the company sold 145,506 battery units in 2023 compared with 87,844 the previous year, a change of +65.6%. Conversely, in the light vehicle segment, 2023 sales rose to 25,831, a +11.5% increase from 2022 figures (23,175). Analysing total sales, 2023 saw a 54.3% growth, to 171,338, from 2022 sales figures of 111,019.

The company is set to supply BAE Systems with its Forsee Zen Plus battery system to equip BAE’s Gen3 powertrain on a class 7 demonstration truck. The batteries will be produced at Forsee’s new manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio, beginning in Q1 2024.

The planned facility will cover 46,000 square metres and employ more than 500 workers, engaged in storing and distributing spare parts as well as electric vehicle batteries.

At the show, Hyvia presented a Renault Master van with fuel cell electric driveline which was converted into a workshop vehicle by Kollé of Santeny.

The 28,000-square-metre plant is being built in the Jiading Hydrogen Park, within the municipality of Shanghai.

The demonstrator, located at Michelin’s plant in the commune of Bassens, is tooled to produce butadiene, an organic compound of hydrogen and carbon, from ethanol derived from biomass.

It is an ‘E-Tech D Wide 26-tonne’ truck with a special body built by Frappa; the body contains a carousel system which was designed by French engineering services firm Actemium.

The vehicle will be used to test its energy efficiency and aerodynamics, its ability to detect vulnerable road users through integrated ADAS technology, and the comfort and ergonomics of its interior fittings and cabin dashboard.

According to the terms of the agreement, Symbio will play the role of mentor to startups working in the hydrogen sector.

This will make it one of the largest such projects in France, producing enough energy to supply the average consumption of 17,500 people.