DAF Trucks has said it is ‘right behind’ the recent announcement of funding from the UK Government and Innovate UK for the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme.
DAF XD Electric and XF Electric tractor units will form part of a 370-vehicle fleet comprised primarily of battery electric, plus some hydrogen-fuelled, trucks, rolled out through four consortia made up of numerous stakeholders, each with responsibility to demonstrate higher weight / longer-distance zero emission operations and associated infrastructure.
The three consortia into which DAF Trucks will deliver XD and XF Electric models are headed up by Gridserve, Project Zero Emission North and Voltempo. Major operators involved in the programme include Maritime Transport, Marks & Spencer, Menzies, Royal Mail and Eddie Stobart.
The funding programme follows the conclusion of the recent Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT) where 20 DAF LF Electric vehicles were in service with a range of public bodies, including the National Health Service (NHS) and local authorities – the results from which are being used in an interactive website to inform operators’ buying decisions and to help stimulate the adoption of electric trucks.
The positive outcome of the trial affirms DAF Trucks’ credentials as a manufacturer of electric trucks – with its LF and New Generation XB models – ideally suited to back-to-base operations. The market leader’s larger XD Electric and XF Electric trucks are the ideal choice for longer distance operations, where publicly accessible charging infrastructure becomes integral to the efficacy of EVs.
