DAF Trucks has started field testing the CF Hybrid with the aim of gaining experience in daily use. Dutch transport operator Peter Appel is using two of these innovative trucks to supply supermarkets in the heart of the Netherlands. The DAF CF Hybrid is 100% electric in urban areas and uses clean diesel technology out of town. The innovation truck combines best of the both worlds by driving with zero emissions in town, thereby ensuring both long range and flexibility outside urban areas.
The DAF CF Hybrid innovation trucks are equipped with the 10.8-litre Paccar MX-11 diesel engine (330kW/450hp), a ZF electric motor (75kW/100hp, peak power: 130kW/175 hp), and a special ZF TraXon gearbox for hybrid powertrains.
The electric motor gets its energy from a 85kWh battery pack, which recharges when the diesel engine is being used. During diesel operation the electric motor functions as a generator and delivers energy to the battery pack. In the future it will also be possible to charge the battery at a (fast) charging station.
When the battery is fully charged, the DAF CF Hybrid has an electric range of 30 to 50 kilometres, depending on the total weight of the truck-trailer combination, which is more than enough to drive into and out of urban areas without producing any tailpipe emissions.
Outside of town the CF Hybrid is powered by the Paccar MX-11 diesel engine, which offers a long range. In addition, the hybrid technology delivers extra savings on fuel consumption thanks to smart energy management. The energy that is generated by the engine brake as well as Down Hill Speed Control is used by the electric motor to support the diesel engine. This is beneficial both in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
“Together with our client, Albert Heijn, we are always looking for ways to reduce our CO2 footprint,” says Marcel Pater, fleet manager at Peter Appel Transport, which boasts a total of 680 trucks. “While the electric trucks are ideal for urban distribution, the hybrid technology is preferable for longer routes. In town the DAF CF Hybrid operates fully electric, and the truck‘s diesel engine means it can travel to and from the different distribution centres within the Netherlands and abroad without any problems.”
