The 4-speed transmission for heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles is intended to meet growing demand in several segments, including port drayage, regional and line haul, and vocational applications.

The company said the design philosophy of the new XD was built on the same values as the “International Truck of the Year 2022” winning XF and XG long-haul commercial vehicles, in terms of driver comfort, quality, efficiency and safety.

All vehicles will have engines with Mercedes-Benz’s proven BlueTec 6 technology, which incorporates a more robust gas after-treatment system, and which reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 80% and particulate matter emissions by 50%.

The project, called NEFTON, is assessing whether fast megawatt charging can help battery-electric trucks to match the typical profile of a conventional truck used for long haul transportation, and measuring the impact that megawatt chargers would have on the national grid.

The two companies have pledged to continue developing autonomous driving technology in mining trucks, focusing on operations at Rio Tinto’s iron ore mine, called Channar mine, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The 44-tonne ‘E-Tech T’ and ‘E-Tech C’, designed for regional haul and construction applications respectively, are available to pre-order ahead of production commencement at the end of 2023.

The first DAF LF Electric truck to be sold in Europe has been bought by the Dutch logistics service provider, Nabuurs.

Logistics firm Foria will use the truck to transport fly ashes – a by-product of coal combustion – from a thermal power station in Mälardalen to a new recycling facility in Högbytorp operated by Ragn-Sells AB.

The 12-metre bus is fitted with a diesel engine which Keyou has converted to run on hydrogen and a “mild-hybrid” transmission with energy recuperation capabilities.

MAN displayed a battery electric truck for long haul operations offering a range of between 600 and 800km for market introduction in 2024.

At the IAA Transportation 2022, BYD launched two new electric trucks, the BYD ETM6, a 7.5 tons gvw truck for the urban delivery truck market and the BYD ETH8 (19 tons) for general distribution,  waste collection and recycling - marking its entry into the European e-truck market.

The Actros and Actros C will be produced in a new 400,000 square-metre facility in Beijing.