DAF CF electric wins Green Truck award!
The DAF CF Electric truck has received the Green Truck Logistics Solution 2019 award. On the eve of the Transport Logistic trade fair in Munich, Germany, the two leading trade publications, VerkehrsRundschau and TRUCKER, also honored the logistics services company Contargo for its initiative to put the first DAF CF Electric trucks into service in Germany. The two trucks are fully electric and will be used for container handling and transportation in the Port of Duisburg, Germany. The “Green Truck Logistics Solution” award is a prestigious distinction, awarded for the implementation of promising technologies for innovative and sustainable logistics in Europe.
The two fully electric DAF trucks delivered to the Rhenus Group subsidiary Contargo are part of an extensive field test on several trucks in Europe. They are the first CF Electric trucks to be put into service in Germany. The DAF CF Electric is a fully electric 4x2 tractor unit developed for applications up to 37 tonnes in urban areas, where single or twin axle trailers are the norm. The vehicle is based on the CF model and has a fully electric drive using VDL’s E Power technology. The heart of its intelligent drivetrain is the 210 kW electric motor, powered by a Li-ion battery pack with a total capacity of 170 kWh. The CF Electric has a range of up to 100 km, depending on the load weight, making it suitable for high-volume urban transport in zero-emission conditions. The batteries have a quick-charge function in 30 minutes, while a full charge cycle takes just one and a half hours.
Award-winning concept
“When it comes to the Green Truck Award, a convincing concept with demonstrable practical relevance makes the difference,” explains Gerhard Grünig, editor-in-chief of VerkehrsRundschau and TRUCKER. “Using the two DAF CF Electric trucks, the jury was impressed by the fact that Contargo did not just want to implement a pivotal project for publicity sake, but invested around two years in preparing the ground, carefully analyzing whether electric vehicles are suitable for truck applications in the 44-tonne gross vehicle weight range.”
They meet market needs without problems
Richard Zink, Director of Marketing and Sales and Member of the Board of Directors of DAF Trucks, added: “Electric trucks will be part of Europe’s future urban life. The data we collect on full electric technology and operational use together with key stakeholders such as Contargo will be designed into the specifications of the final production models, ensuring that the vehicles will seamlessly meet the needs of the market.”
Contargo's goal for complete decarbonization by 2050
This initiative was highlighted by Sascha Hähnke, Managing Director of Rhenus Trucking. “Together with Contargo, we are aiming to take a step towards innovation, a direction that no other logistics company has yet taken. The two electric trucks are part of the first truck fleet in Germany to be powered exclusively by a battery pack. We are thus making a clear and unequivocal statement that this technology has a future,” said Hähnke. Rhenus Group CEO Michael Viefers added: “Here at Rhenus, we are always willing to test new technologies that enable us to provide resource-efficient logistics services. This philosophy means adopting an open approach to technology. We will continue to improve our vehicle fleet in a sustainable way for the benefit of our customers.”
“Almost 90% CO reduction potential2"
The selection process for the award candidates was based on verified calculations. According to these figures, the use of the DAF CF Electric reduces carbon emissions by at least 38%, even when using only electricity from the usual grey-green energy mix. “Contargo intends to switch to green electricity at all terminals it uses,” added Jan Burgdorf, Head of Testing and Technology at VerkehrsRundschau and TRUCKER. “As a result, CO emissions2 can be reduced by almost 90%.”
DAF CF 450 on the Green Truck podium
Not only was the DAF CF Electric awarded, but the DAF CF 450 truck also made it to the podium at Green Truck 2019. With a low fuel consumption of just 23.39 liters per hundred kilometers verified on the Trucker magazine test circuit, the CF 450 reflected DAF's continuous focus on developing the most efficient diesel engines, dedicated to long-distance transport.
