After unveiling the CF Electric earlier this year, the first DAF electric truck has finally been delivered to Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo.
Back in May, Dutch truck manufacturing company DAF partnered with VDL Groep to build the electric powertrain for their CF Electric. The DAF electric truck sports a 170 kW battery capacity with an estimated range of about 100 km (roughly 62 miles) as well as a 210 kW electric motor. The CF Electric can reportedly quick-charge its battery in 30 minutes or fully charge in roughly 1.5 hours. The electric truck is also capable of hauling 37 tonnes (40 tons) in urban areas.
The recent delivery of the first DAF electric truck to Jumbo marks the start of a series of long-term field tests that will utilize both fully electric and hybrid trucks.
DAF Trucks President Harry Wolters stated the following in regards to the recent delivery:
“The transport sector is about to undergo a major transformation. 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.”
Jumbo CEO Frits van Eerd added:
“Introducing this new electric truck is the next step towards our goal of implementing a sustainable strategy for our vehicle fleet. Our business puts us right at the heart of the community, and our ultimate goal is to be using electric vehicles to supply 45% of our shops. By 2020, we hope to have reduced CO2 emissions from Jumbo’s vehicle fleet by 50% compared with 2008.”
Willem van der Leegte, President and CEO of VDL Groep, went on to conclude:
“It is truly wonderful to see three companies from the Brabant region come together in this way. Today’s events put Jumbo, DAF and VDL at the forefront of work to develop emission-free transport and reduce noise levels. We are working on the basis that this approach will become the norm in urban areas. The DAF CF Electric featuring E-Power Technology from VDL provides transporters with the ideal solution to their needs and represents a major step forward in terms of achieving sustainability in goods transport and distribution.”
Source: DAF
