DAF’s All-New Electric Truck Assembly Plant In The Netherlands Is Officially Open
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DAF’s all new assembly plant for battery-electric trucks was officially opened last week by Micky Adriaansens, the Dutch minister of Economic Affairs and Climate.
We are finally starting to see some traction in the electrification of commercial vehicles. In the United Kingdom for example, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says ownership of electric commercial vehicles has risen, with vans up some 67.3% and buses and coaches increasing by 34.9%, while the number of zero emission trucks has almost trebled since last year, although they still account for fewer than one in 600 in use at the end of December 2022.
The good news is that more options are now available for operators of electric trucks to choose from, meaning that we should see continued growth in the sales of heavy electric trucks. Logistics firms are also starting to order electric trucks in significant volumes. Recently, Gruber Logistics announced that within the next two years, it will expand its fleet by 50 electric trucks. At the same time, the European logistics provider plans to build its own charging infrastructure for its electric vehicles. The company is following a multi-brand strategy for its fleet expansion. The vehicles were ordered from Volvo, Scania, and IVECO, manufacturers with whom Gruber Logistics maintains close partnerships. The electric trucks will have a total weight of 44 tonnes each and a range of 300 to 350 kilometers, depending on operating conditions.
“For us, the investment in e-trucks is not a change of perspective, but the continuation of our path towards decarbonisation. We do not assume that some day there will be one alternative fuel that is preferable to all others. Rather, there will be a mix of solutions in the future, ranging from environmentally friendly fuels and electric solutions to the use of hydrogen. Our goal is to create the most sustainable vehicle fleet in Europe,” explains Stefan Knapp, Executive Director Fleet at Gruber Logistics. The logistics company also already uses electric vehicles in distribution transport, with a total weight of up to 25 tonnes.
“Germany, as the largest logistics market in Europe, is the country in which we expect to invest the most. But we will also use electric vehicles in Italy, Poland and the Benelux countries,” says CEO Martin Gruber.
In another awesome development that will provide more options for fleet operators, DAF’s all new assembly plant for battery-electric trucks was officially opened last week by Micky Adriaansens, the Dutch minister of Economic Affairs and Climate. The new facility has been commissioned at DAF’s main production site in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and will be instrumental in the further development of the company’s leading position in providing sustainable transport solutions. The new DAF Electric Truck Assembly plant covers an area of 5,000 square meters and includes two sub-assembly lines for the preparation of the battery packs, as well as the Electric Drive Module, consisting of the front battery pack, high voltage junction box, and electrified auxiliaries. These key components, as well as the electric motor with integrated gearbox, are installed onto the vehicle on the main assembly line which is almost 150 meters long.
Series production of the XD and XF Electric will start shortly in the summer of 2023. The new DAF XD and XF Electric trucks are available in a range of configurations. These are powered by PACCAR e-Motors and equipped with battery packs of 2 up to 5 strings (210 to 525 kWh). The modular approach allows the trucks to be tailored precisely to customer requirements and needs. Full electric ranges of up to 500 kilometers are possible, making 1,000 ‘zero emission’ kilometers achievable with careful planning of routes and recharging. With fast charging of up to 350 kW, battery packs can be charged to 80% of their capacity in only 45 minutes. DAF expects production to increase to thousands of vehicles per year in the near future, in line with the increasing demand for fully electric trucks.
Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, said, “DAF has been a leading player in the manufacture of trucks for many years and is currently playing a prominent and innovative role in the development of electric trucks. The transition to cleaner products and production methods is important. Not only for the environment but also to ensure that the Netherlands retains its competitive edge. This new factory for battery electric trucks is a shining example of that ambition.”
“The commissioning of the new DAF Electric Truck Assembly plant represents another important milestone on the road to an even cleaner future,” stated Harald Seidel, DAF Trucks’ president. “To support our customers in the transition to zero emission road transport, we go further than delivering class-leading full electric vehicles. Our comprehensive package includes a broad range of charging solutions, advice on planning of routes and charging, and the provision of dedicated training for drivers to get the best out of the vehicles.”
Images courtesy of DAF.
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