UK – Louis Jones, the newly appointed EV & Connected Services Director at DAF Trucks UK Ltd (a subsidiary of the Dutch manufacturer DAF Trucks NV, headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands) stepped into the spotlight at a UK media event in Oxford late last year. This newly created role highlights the company’s commitment to integrating connectivity with its efforts to electrify the UK truck market. Jones will spearhead the development of DAF’s electric vehicle (EV) programme in the UK, managing sales, aftersales, the dealer network’s EV strategy, and the deployment of charging infrastructure.

New generation DAF electric trucks available in the UK

After some production delays, DAF’s new XB Electric (7.5 up to 19 tonne GVW) trucks are finally available in the UK. The XB Electric is designed for city distribution with cobalt and magnesium-free, lithium-iron-phosphate battery options ranging from 141 to 282 kWh, offering up to 350 kilometres of range. The truck is powered by an e-motor offering nominal power of 120kW and 190kW output and nominal torque of 950 and 1,850Nm respectively (2,600 and 3,500Nm peak performance). It features fast-charging capabilities, allowing 20% to 80% charging in 40 to 70 minutes, depending on battery size.

The XB also features advanced driver assistance systems, including the AEBS (Advanced Emergency Braking System), Turn Assist to detect cyclists in blind spots, Drowsiness Detection, Speed Limit Recognition, and Lane Change Assist. The company is also offering comprehensive support with charging advice, route planning and training services for drivers. This complements the XD Electric and XF Electric range.

DAF Trucks electric range

Powering electric fleets

Of course, electric trucks require charging and power solutions to function. This is why Paccar Power Solutions is on hand to provide advanced charging systems and energy management tools aimed at helping fleets transition to electric mobility more effectively. The Power Solutions department offers a turnkey infrastructure charging solution consisting of electric chargers (Paccar Chargers), grid management tools and digital fleet management tools (Paccar Connect) to support the uptake of DAF’s new-generation electric truck range.

Paccar Power Solutions consults with individual clients on how best to electrify its fleets and depots. This will include working on the necessary construction, electrical installations, chargers, battery storage facilities, and charging management systems which may involve working with third-party contractors where necessary. This involves an in-depth analysis of the operator's vehicle fleet, its charging requirements and individual energy grid capacity/management.

Interestingly, last year Paccar Inc installed its first on-site power supply system consisting of 750 solar panels, at the BEST DAF Trucks centre in Barendrecht, Netherlands. We are yet to see this service rolled out in the UK.

Connectivity, AI and Paccar Connect

We know that new electric HGVs carry a significant upfront cost compared to that of their diesel ICE equivalents. DAF is hoping to leverage big data and AI to drive efficiency gains for operators, ameliorating that initial cost. This has resulted in Paccar Connect, the company’s online fleet management platform, which comes standard for ten years in its new generation truck series.

Paccar Connect is accessed through a detachable tablet in the cab and on any smart device remotely. This provides real-time information on the performance of entire fleets, individual vehicles, and drivers, as well as logistical information, designed to optimise the returns on truck operations. The platform allows for easy integration with most third-party software. This means that Paccar Connect can be integrated into warehouse logistics software speeding up the loading/unloading at warehouses. This is coupled with geofencing, which notifies the destination (home base/warehouse) when the vehicle is nearing its final destination.

This software provides operators with valuable fleet data relating to vehicle performance, fuel consumption, driver behaviour and GPS/logistical data helping operators run fleets more efficiently. The “Eco Score” tab pulls up information on the driver’s performance whilst “Vehicle Health” allows operators insights into vehicle performance and maintenance scheduling/booking. Furthermore, the software turns this data into reports that can be sent via email to various operational departments, detailing the data of a particular vehicle and/or fleet.

Advanced booking of e-Charging stations through new partner - HDV Booking

For operators looking to run long-distance e-fleets throughout the UK in 2026, Phil Moon, Marketing Manager at DAF Trucks UK told us that last year DAF joined an international platform called HDV Booking, which aims to streamline the reservation of public charging stations for electric trucks across the UK and Europe. This initiative is part of a larger effort to improve the efficiency and availability of charging infrastructure for long-distance electric truck transport. The system will enable fleet operators to plan routes more effectively by reserving charging points, taking into account variables such as traffic and driver rest periods. This platform, which includes a consortium of various partners (charging facility providers, software developers, etc.), is expected to be fully operational by Q1 2026. DAF’s participation aligns with its commitment to supporting the transition to zero-emission transport, offering electric trucks like the XD and XF Electric with ranges of up to 500 km, extendable to 1,000 km per day with optimised charging during breaks

Electric truck trials and programmes

In an attempt to woo potential customers, DAF Trucks UK initiated an “early adopter programme” for its XB Electric model, which involved a select group of key customers with plans to integrate electric trucks into their fleets. This involved ten customers over the course of twelve months with full DAF factory and aftermarket support. One notable participant in this programme was Evri, the British parcel delivery company. Evri incorporated the XB Electric truck into its operations at its Southampton depot. The company confirmed the importance of operating the vehicle under real-world conditions. Only time will tell how many XB Electric trucks make their way into the Evri fleet.

DAF UK 2024 electric truck trials

The Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme* (ZEHID) continued into 2024 (5-year programme). The GBP 200 million project, which is funded by the Department for Transport in partnership with Innovate UK, incorporated the DAF XD Electric and DAF XF Electric models. The programme aims to demonstrate the capabilities and cost-effectiveness of running long-distance electric trucks (40t-44 tonne). The DAF tractor units have formed part of a 370-vehicle fleet comprised primarily of battery electric, plus some hydrogen-fuelled trucks, entering operation with major fleet operators including Marks & Spencer, Menzies and the Royal Mail as early as Q1 2025. By participating in the ZEHID programme, DAF Trucks aims to demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of its electric HGVs in real-world, long-distance operations within the UK. This involvement underscores DAF's commitment to supporting the UK's transition to zero-emission freight transport and contributes valuable data and insights to the broader industry effort to reduce carbon emissions in logistics.

*The aim is to test and show that eHGVs are ready to replace diesel HGVs and can deliver the same service when the right infrastructure, systems, processes, and business models are deployed. The project aims to quantify the total cost of ownership for eHGVs relative to their diesel counterparts.