DAF expands its electric product range

By MEq April 23, 2021 15:01

DAF Trucks introduces the LF Electric, a 19 tonne fully electric distribution truck for urban applications. The state-of-the-art vehicle offers a range of up to 280 kilometers.

The CF Electric trucks have already clocked up several hundreds of thousands of kilometers with high-profile customers, building DAF’s experience with electric driveline technology. The new LF Electric is DAF’s latest product to feature a full-electric powertrain.

The e-motor of the LF Electric provides 250 kW of nominal power (370 kW peak) and a nominal torque of 1.200 Nm (3.700 Nm peak). Power comes from a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with a gross energy content of 282 kWh (254 kWh effective). This offers the LF Electric a range of no less than 280 ultra-quiet and ‘zero emission’ kilometers more than enough for the needs of urban distribution transport operators.

DAF uses so-called LFP batteries (Lithium Ferro Phosphate) on all fully electric vehicles. These are batteries of the very latest generation, containing no cobalt or magnesium, in the interests of sustainability. Additionally, they are better packaged – resulting in a higher energy density per liter – and the chemistry of the battery ensures the highest thermal safety. The LFP batteries come with a 6-year warranty, illustrating DAF’s confidence in terms of performance, reliability, and durability.

A special feature of the new DAF LF Electric is the ‘Combined Charging System’. This allows the truck to be charged through the regular electricity network and is ideal when the truck returns to the home base at the end of the day. Through slow-charging (400V AC, 22 kW, 3 phase), the battery pack can be charged from 20% to 80% in 6.5 hours. A full charge (0% to 100%) takes up to 12 hours. If dedicated equipment is available, fast charging the batteries (650V DC, 150 kW) will only take 60 minutes from 20% to 80% or 2 hours for a full charge.

As an option, the new DAF LF Electric is available with a 400V e-PTO for powering auxiliary equipment such as an electric cooling installation or an electro-hydraulic crane. This eliminates the need for a separate generator and will result in a full ‘zero emission’ distribution truck.

The LF Electric is initially available as a 19-tonne rigid, with a choice of 5.3 or 5.85-meter wheelbases. The truck offers a body & payload allowance of 11,700 kilograms, which is sufficient for the majority of city distribution applications.
The DAF LF Electric, developed in close cooperation with Dana Inc, will enter production at Leyland Trucks in the UK in May.