DAF Trucks has delivered its first fully electric truck to Dutch supermarket chain, Jumbo. The CF Electric has been developed in a joint venture between DAF and VDL, and will be used by Jumbo to supply its supermarkets in the south of the Netherlands.

The first DAF CF Electric to enter in-service operations represents a significant milestone for DAF Trucks, VDL and Jumbo, and marks the start of a series of long-term field tests using both fully electric and hybrid trucks.

“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.”

Jumbo CEO Frits van Eerd says introducing the electric truck was the next step towards their goal of implementing a sustainable strategy for their 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.”

The DAF CF Electric is capable of deliveries within a radius of about 50 kilometres with zero local emissions and with minimal noise pollution. A charging station to charge the truck has been installed at the Jumbo distribution centre in Veghel. V-Storage, a joint venture between VDL Groep and Scholt Energy Control, is working with Dutch research body, TNO, to assess the feasibility of fitting solar panels to power the charging station.

The DAF CF Electric is a 4×2 tractor unit developed for road haulage at up to 37 tonnes in urban areas, for which single-axle or dual-axle trailers are standard. The vehicle is based on the DAF CF and is electrically operated using VDL‘s E-Power Technology. The centre of this intelligent powertrain is a 210-kW electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack with a current total capacity of 170 kWh. The CF Electric has a range of approximately 100 kilometres, making it suitable for high-volume transport in the urban distribution market. The battery has a 30-minute quick-charge feature and a full charge takes just 1.5 hours.