At IAA Transportation 2024 last month, I experienced firsthand the magnetic effect of the “Tesla phenomenon”. Towards the end of a series of keynote speeches delivered by some of the industry’s most important executives, Dan Priestley, who heads the development of Tesla’s heavy electric ‘Semi’ truck, took to the stage to provide an update on the company’s plans for the commercial vehicle segment. I had a place towards the front, having sat through the preceding talks that afternoon, which were reasonably well attended; however, looking behind just before Priestley’s entry to the stage, I saw a new crowd of attendees filling out the entire space.

As of August 2024, several Dutch transport operators have begun using the XD and XF Electric models, which have been designed for zero-emission operations.

DAF has joined an international e-charging reservation platform called HDV Booking, which aims to streamline the reservation of public charging stations for electric trucks across Europe.

Paccar Connect provides operators with valuable fleet data relating to vehicle performance, fuel consumption, driver behaviour and GPS/logistical data helping operators run fleets more efficiently.

Van den Oetelaar will be replacing Patrick Dean, who will leave to the U.S. to take up the position of Director of Paccar Electronics.

Paccar Connect provides operators with valuable fleet data relating to vehicle performance, fuel consumption, driver behaviour and GPS/logistical data helping operators run fleets more efficiently.

Paccar has installed its first on-site power supply system consisting of 750 solar panels, at the BEST DAF Trucks centre in Barendrecht, Netherlands. In combination with an energy storage system, the solar panels power the three superchargers, able to fast charge electric trucks (maximum output of 360 kW) leaving the workshop.

DAF Trucks Vlaanderen (a subsidiary of Dutch truck manufacturer, DAF Trucks NV) has been named “Factory of the Future” by the Belgian technology federation Agoria. The criteria are based on sustainability and the use of pioneering technology and manufacturing practices.

The company reported a record production of 69,800 units (68,000 in 2022), up 1,800 from the previous year. 57,900 of these were medium and heavy-duty CF, XD, XF, XG and XG+ trucks that came off the production line (56,100 in 2022) and the other  11,900 being  LF and XB distribution trucks.

Built for the U.S. Department of Energy’s SuperTruck II programme, the prototype truck, described by Paccar as a “testbed for future product technologies”, was developed in order to improve freight ton efficiency by 100% compared to a 2009 baseline.

Solutrans 2023 was held between 21-25 November at Eurexpo in Lyon, France. Over 1,000 exhibitors and 50,000 guests gathered for the 17th edition of this historic show, centred around the European heavy and light commercial vehicle industry.

The trucks are equipped with 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).