DAF take electric CF tractor units order

Many manufacturers talk about their electric trucks but there are very few available to order and even less that are tractor units rather than rigids but DAF Trucks are not one of them and they have both types available. Indeed they have received an order for two new DAF CF Electric tractor units from Cardiff-based international freight forwarders, Freight Systems Express Wales (FSEW). It is the UK’s first order for battery electric heavy tractor units, as well as a first order for DAF Trucks and its new zero-emissions product offering.

Consultancy the key to success

Making the decision to go electric is not currently for everyone and a thorough evaluation of an operators distribution profile and how adopting electric may impact on it , is at the heart of making an informed decision. With this in mind, Cardiff based Egnida and DAF Trucks’ own electric vehicle experts embarked upon a month-long, end-to-end appraisal of all aspects of FSEW’s business, encompassing detailed journey analysis and comparison of potential vehicle and charging options, including ongoing support capability.

Once the modelling was finished and the DAF engineers feed in the electric CF’s parameters the results were used by Egnida to create a profitable low-carbon business model for FSEW to extract maximum benefits from the DAF CF Electric and provide a zero-emissions service demanded by FSEW’s own customers. This order is not the end but actually the start, with FSEW planning these vehicles to form part of an ambitious plan to replace more than 40 diesel vehicles with low-carbon alternatives. Once the two CF Electrics are bedded-in, FSEW’s says it will introduce a further ten vehicles to reduce its carbon emissions by more than 50% in the next nine months. The company says its longer-term aim will be to hit ‘net-zero’ in two-and-a-half years.

DAF electric models

DAF have a number of electric trucks available including the CF Electric and LF Electric trucks both models are now available to order in the UK, with models including a CF Electric 37.0-tonne GCW tractor-unit and a 27-tonne GVW 6×2 rigid, alongside an LF Electric at 19.0-tonnes GVW.

Geoff Tomlinson

“It’s a change of mindset,” said FSEW Managing Director, Geoff Tomlinson, “it’s a journey which began two-and-a-half years ago and one in which the whole business is engaged. If these trucks perform as they should – and we’re fully confident of that following the painstaking evaluation programme – then we’ll be in for another ten DAF CFs. DAF Trucks and the local dealer in Cardiff, Watts Truck & Van, have been very receptive to our requirements. Their can-do attitude has helped enormously in our journey here today and we’re very much looking forward to strengthening the relationship. As a business owner involved in road transport, and as a father of two small children, I have a huge opportunity, and an obligation, to make a positive impact on our environment and I’m enormously excited at the prospect of leading the switch to zero-emissions transport.”

Click here to read about the electric Mercedes-Benz eActros

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