Lancashire-based Leyland Trucks is supplying 20 DAF LF Electric rigids and recharging equipment this summer to a project designed to stimulate interest in battery-electric vehicles in commercial transport applications. Eleven of the 19-tonne (21-U.S.-ton) vehicles will go to work for National Health Service operations around the country, while various Local Authorities will use the remaining nine rigids for recycling operations and deliveries to schools.
Publicizing The Data
Leyland Trucks and low carbon research consultancy Cenex will log data from the electric commercial vehicle project in a report and an interactive website so that fleet operators can learn about the operation of battery-electric trucks under real-world conditions. The project is part of the UK Government’s £20 million (USD $28 million) road freight trials for zero-emission vehicles in support of Department for Transport carbon reduction goals and delivered using the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).
“We’re proud to be leading the drive towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for the road transport industry,” says Leyland Trucks Project Manager Rob Lawton. Leyland Trucks builds DAF LF and, as of recently, LF Electric trucks at its Lancashire facility.
“Our LF Electric and CF Electric vehicles offer the best solution for zero-emissions operation,” Lawton says. “The results from our NHS and Local Authority partners will support Leyland Trucks’ extensive and long-term testing programs to further strengthen our leading position in providing battery-electric vehicles.”
The DAF LF Electric
DAF’s LF Electric is currently available as a 19-t GVW rigid applicable to urban, multi-drop, and local distribution as well as vocational applications. It has a body and payload allowance of 11.7 t (12.8 U.S. t) and can be ordered with 5.3- or 5.85-metre (17.4- or 19.2-foot) wheelbases. Importantly, the LF Electric has a range of up to 280 kilometres (174 miles). An available Smart e-PTO supports equipment for refrigeration, waste collection, and other jobs.
Using one of its many quick-charging options—a 650-volt, 150-kilowatt PACCAR DC charger installed on-site—the LF Electric can recharge from 20% to 80% in one hour and from 0% to 80% in two hours. With its onboard charger connected to a three-phase mains source, the truck can recharge from 20% to 80% in 6.5 hours and from 0% to 100% in 12 hours, according to DAF.
The LF Electric’s motor is rated for 260 kilowatts of power and 370 kW of peak power (349 horsepower and 496 peak HP). A cobalt-free lithium, ferro (iron), and phosphate (LFP) battery pack provides the motor with 282 kilowatt-hours of power (252 kWh effective power).
Find The Right DAF Truck
When you’re in the market for new or used DAF trucks, including LF models for sale, visit Truck Locator and use its easy search features to find the truck that fits your needs.
Source: DAF