Jumbo, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands, will use the first fully electric truck from DAF, the CF Electric, to help stock its locations. The CF Electric is the result of a partnership between DAF and VDL Groep, and this particular model is the first to go into active operation. The 4x2 tractor unit features a 210-kilowatt electric motor that produces 2,000 newton-metres of torque. It has a lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 170 kWh, which gives the truck an operating range of 100 kilometres. You can fully charge the battery in around 1.5 hours or opt for a quick-charge in 30 minutes. The trucks weighs 9,700 kilograms and can haul up to 37 tonnes.
Just The Beginning
While an important first step, this delivery is only the beginning for DAF in terms of testing out electric and hybrid vehicles in the real world. The CF Electric produces zero emissions, runs quietly enough for work in urban areas, and can operate within a 50-kilometre area, all of which would be major benefits for a wide range of industries.
VDL Groep and Scholt Energy Control installed a charging station at Jumbo’s distribution centre in Veghel in the Netherlands. This is also the first step into a larger world for VDL Groep, which will work with a Dutch research organization called TNO to “assess the feasibility” of powering the charging station using solar energy.
The New Normal
“The transport sector is about to undergo a major transformation,” says DAF Trucks President Harry Wolters. “Electric trucks look set to become the norm for deliveries in urban areas. Not today and not next year, but definitely within the foreseeable future. I am particularly proud that today marks the beginning of a large-scale field testing project that will see DAF working in collaboration with VDL and Jumbo. This project will allow us to gather useful data and experience in relation to both the technology and the operational aspects. We can then use our findings to ensure that the final series-production model provides the ideal solution to future market requirements.”
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