DAF to Release Electric Truck in Europe by Year's End

DAF's new CF Electric truck is a 4x2 tractor with a 40-metric ton capacity optimized for urban delivery applications.

Jack Roberts・Executive Editor

May 29, 2018

DAF to Release Electric Truck in Europe by Year's End — The new CF Electric truck will debut later this year in select DAF customer fleets and feature a 62-mile daily range.
Photo courtesy DAF

3 min to read

The race to develop electric truck technologies continues at a rapid pace in Europe. DAF Trucks has announced a new partnership with electrical systems supplier VDL to release a first series of CF Electric trucks later this year. The trucks will be offered to “leading” DAF customers and will feature state-of-the-art VDL E-Power Technology for zero emissions and ultra-low noise. These field test trucks will be manufactured by DAF and the full electric installation will be completed by VDL Group, demonstrating the strong cooperation between both companies in the field of electrification of commercial vehicles.

“DAF has a strong history of developing innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers and we will continue to provide them the full complement of appropriate technology choices to ensure their success,” stated Preston Feight, DAF Trucks president. “DAF was among the first manufacturers to introduce a hybrid electric distribution truck in Europe and has continued to develop hybrid and electric powertrains. As cities announce their intention to require zero emissions and ultra-low noise we will make sure our customers have the optimal solutions for their success.”

For the CF Electric, DAF is partnering with VDL Group, also based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. VDL is a technology leading company with substantial experience in commercial vehicle electrification, especially in the field of public transport buses. “VDL has proven itself as a leader in fully electric buses for public transport and has already delivered hundreds of electric buses to public transport operators throughout Europe”, said Willem van der Leegte, president of VDL Group. “Partnering with DAF on this electric truck is an exciting development and represents a tremendous opportunity for two Eindhoven based technology companies to lead the electric commercial vehicle world.”

The CF Electric is a 4x2 tractor unit developed for up to 40-ton distribution applications within urban areas in which single or double axle semi-trailers are standard. The truck is based on DAF’s CF – ‘International Truck of the Year 2018’ – and uses VDL’s advanced E-Power Technology for fully electric operation. The center of the intelligent powertrain is the 210 kW electric motor, which gets its energy from the lithium-ion battery pack with a current total capacity of 170 kWh. The CF Electric has a range of approximately 100 kilometers which is appropriate for high volume distribution applications. Quick charging of the batteries can be executed in 30 minutes or a complete full charge can be accomplished in as little as 1.5 hours.