A question? Here are our main answers. Contact us for more information!
An off-road vehicle is reserved for handling manoeuvres on private sites.
Legal texts: R 311-1 of the French Highway Code and the French decree of 20 November 1969
Tractors or self-propelled vehicles fall into Category B specialised machinery (French decree of 14 February 1985 “Journal Officiel” of 7 March 1985), the definition of which is given in a ministerial decree dated 20 November 1969 (published in the “Journal Officiel” of 19 December 1969): “These are self-propelled and towed machines used for lifting, stacking or transporting products of all kinds (excluding the transportation of persons other than the driver and possibly a transporter) and which by design cannot exceed a speed of 25 km per hour (15.5 mph)”. The conditions to be met in order to safely drive a tractor or self-propelled vehicle on roads open to public traffic and avoid being fined by the authorities are as follows:
1. The manufacturer’s vehicle speed must be limited to 25 km/h (15.5 mph)
2. The machinery must be driven by a single driver and possibly an accompanying person, particularly when performing a reverse manoeuvre.
3. The machinery must be equipped with the regulatory lights and indicators. A rotating beacon is recommended and mandatory in some French departments.
Note that as soon as a construction machine, regardless of its category, is on roads open to public traffic, it must bear a manufacturer’s plate and be covered by the mandatory “civil liability” vehicle insurance and an “operational civil liability” insurance for damage caused by construction machines. Moreover, the driver must have a valid driving license issued by the employee’s manager in accordance with current regulations.
The forklift driver is not required to have a driving license to drive on the road.
(Source: the professional body of the Construction branch in France in charge of occupational safety and health – OPPBTP)
These machines must also be fitted with the license plate referred to in Article R. 158 of the French Highway Code. This plate, which must measure at least 10 cm x 5 cm, must
state the name and address of the owner or company name.
Source: Order of 20 November 1969 on the procedures for applying Article R168 of the French Highway Code (amended on 21/02/2000)
The decree of 13 March 2020 paves the way for the widespread adoption of retrofitting (the transition from a combustion engine to an electric motor). Retrofitting is an effective solution for reducing the impact of air pollutants and overall greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. This reduction is achieved through lower material consumption by reusing the existing combustion engine vehicle, combined with the significant environmental benefits of the retrofitted vehicle’s second life phase, which is particularly relevant with the electrical mix of mainland France. The electrical conversion of vehicles, much like the production of new electric vehicles, helps meet air quality preservation requirements.
The circular economy is not simply about waste management or recycling. Instead, it encompasses a range of practices designed to optimise the use of materials and energy, prioritised based on their impact.
As such, the United Nations has proposed a definition:
What is the circular economy? “The circular economy is a system of production, exchange and sharing enabling social progress, the preservation of natural capital and economic development, as defined by the Brundtland Commission.
Its ultimate goal is to disassociate economic growth from the depletion of natural resources by creating of innovative products, services, business models and public policies that take into account the entire life cycle of the product or service.
This model is based on the optimal use of resources and the creation of positive value loops. A key focus of this model is the adoption of new approaches to design, production, and consumption, extending product lifespans, and maximising reuse and recycling.”
This concept is illustrated in the “circular economy diagram”:
- products must be designed to be efficient in both construction and use,
- products must be designed to be repairable with planned maintenance,
- products must be reused and shared to their fullest potential,
- products must be able to be taken apart, allowing functional subsystems to be repurposed in the construction of new products,
- components that can no longer be remanufactured should be recycled as much as possible to minimise waste and resource depletion.
Off-road machinery derived from the circular economy have an extended lifespan of between 10 and 15 years, depending on the intensity of their use.
Off-road vehicles with combustion engines typically consume between 6 and 10 litres (1.3 to 2.2 gallons) of diesel per hour, and generate between 30 and 100 metric tons of CO2 per year, depending on their usage.They also create constant noise pollution for drivers and those working nearby, require frequent mechanical maintenance due to the complexity of their engines,
and often feature basic, single-seater cabins that lack both comfort and space. Additionally, heating and air-conditioning systems in these vehicles are often inadequate.
To address these issues, NEOTRUCKS has developed 100% electric off-road vehicles, designed not only for efficiency and sustainability but also to significantly improve working conditions for drivers: a spacious, converted truck cabin with 3 m2 of space, a ceiling height of 2.15 m, high-performance heating and air conditioning, a natural driving position, and easy, secure access.
The batteries used by NEOTRUCKS are designed for a guaranteed lifespan of 8,000 hours and/or a minimum of six years. Beyond this period, the batteries are still operational but generally have a reduced battery life of 15 to 20%.
NEOTRUCKS batteries have been specially designed for the retrofit market and can therefore be repaired. This technology is based on modular lithium packs in which the lithium cells are protected by a technical dielectric fluid that limits the impact of external temperature fluctuations.
After the first six to eight years of use, NEOTRUCKS offers its customers the option of replacing all or part of the modules as required.
The battery manufacturer is legally obliged to recycle end-of-life batteries at duly authorised facilities.
Batteries that are six to eight years old will still have at least 70% of their original capacity, which will allow NEOTRUCKS to reuse them as stationary batteries for storing electricity produced by solar panels, for example.
All NEOTRUCKS vehicles have a compatible charging plug for slow AC charging and fast DC charging.
For our customers who use fast DC charging, we recommend that they use slow AC charging at least once a week, as this process helps to better balance the cells and prevents voltage differences and premature ageing of the lithium cells.
NEOTRUCKS vehicles are specialised machinery limited to 25 km/h (15.5 mph) and therefore do not require an HGV license or a Caces (Certification of professional competence for public transport operators and freight forwarders).
We strongly recommend that drivers take our training course to obtain the required skills.
