“The grid needs to be able to support
a huge increase of electric consumption
to a large number of locations”
Ron Borsboom, director of product development, DAF Trucks
miles) range which can be recovered in half an
hour while unloading.
McGeachie says the benefi ts are signifi cant.
Prodrive recently studied a London-based fl eet
comprising 100-150 fi ve-tonne trucks,
uncovering savings of 475kg (1,047lbs) of CO2
and 1,500 tonnes of NOx over the operating
lifecycle of their vehicles, based on a 16kWh
battery charged overnight and once mid-shift.
He believes the growing business cases could
encourage a natural migration towards
alternative energy.
“We started the study thinking that the
biggest savings would be emissions, but it’s the
fuel saving that makes it work commercially,”
he explains. “In terms of unit price there’s a bit
of headroom for electrifi ed trucks, but
payback is aggressive and they’re really
sensitive on unit price. They will buy whatever
pays back quickest.”
But tightening emissions targets will require
the need for fully electric HDVs. City
buses have shown the greatest
potential so far, covering short,
repeatable journeys and
reducing inner-city exhaust
emissions. It is
estimated that
there are
385,000 electric
fi rst, certainly in the nine or
10-tonne area, because for range
that’s one of the most feasible
options. It would have to be a
range-extender, with the calibrated
engine to run at its most optimum for
generating electricity, letting the motor do
what it does best, which is driving the wheels.”
Hybridization isn’t new to HDVs, it’s already
prevalent in urban transit buses where
start-stop driving off ers favorable conditions
for electric assistance and regenerative
braking. Plug-in hybrids are less common but
could be desirable as clean air zones arise,
combining diesel-powered long-haul range
augmented by battery power in urban areas.
DAF’s CF Hybrid truck, which is about to begin
end-user testing, off ers a 30-50km (48-80
3. The Mercedes-Benz
eActros’ 240kWh battery
takes under two hours
to replenish when using
a 150kW rapid charger
4. The DAF CF Hybrid
truck offers cleaner and
quieter deliveries
5. A 210kW electric motor
has a pure electric range
of approximately 100km
3
4
5
COMMERCIAL EVS
www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com // July 2019 // 49
/www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com