DAF builds BEVs

New Electric Truck Assembly plant officially opened

DAF’s new

assembly plant for battery electric trucks has been opened this by Micky Adriaansens, the Dutch minister of Economic Affairs and Climate. The new facility is 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 m2 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 e-motor with integrated gearbox are installed onto the vehicle on the main assembly line which is almost 150 metres long.

DAF’s Electric Truck Assembly produces the latest generation of battery electric trucks. The New DAF XD and XF Electric are available in a range of configurations. These are powered by PACCAR e-Motors and equipped with battery packs of two up to five 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 kilometres are possible making 1,000 ‘zero emission’ kilometres achievable with careful planning of routes and recharging. With fast charging of up to 350 kW, battery packs can be charged to 80 per cent of their capacity in only 45 minutes.

Series production of customer vehicles starts this summer. DAF expects production to increase to thousands of vehicles per annum in the near future, in line with the increasing demand for fully electric trucks.

Opening the plant, Micky Adriaansens 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.”

Harald Seidel, DAF Trucks’ president, said: “The commissioning of the new DAF Electric Truck Assembly plant represents another important milestone on the road to an even cleaner future.

“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.”