A DAF XF Electric has become the first electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) to complete a journey carrying freight through the Channel Tunnel.
Members of eFreight 2030, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, Kuehne+Nagel, Voltempo and Daf Trucks worked with LeShuttle Freight to deliver the 1,700 km round-trip.
The journey began at Kuehne+Nagel’s East Midlands Gateway depot in the UK where the truck was loaded with 12-tonnes of freight before being fully charged using the depot’s Voltempo HyperCharger – the UK’s first megawatt-scale charging system.
Along the route to Kuehne+Nagel’s depot in Haiger (Germany), the two-person crew topped up at public charging hubs operated by Gridserve (UK), and Milence in Dunkirk (France) and Maasmechelen (Belgium), showcasing the growing accessibility of fast-charging infrastructure for long-haul electric freight.
The DAF New Generation XF Electric provides a real-world range of up to 310 miles on a single charge and supports DC charging up to 325kW, enabling rapid top-ups.
Kate Broome, Sustainability and Social Impact Director at Kuehne+Nagel UK, said, “With this first ever electric HGV journey via the Channel Tunnel, we set out to show what’s possible – and to inspire others to accelerate their own electrification journeys.
“Planning a multi country long haul route still requires extra work to optimise our schedule for charging stops, but the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure across the UK and Europe is transforming what’s achievable.
“Today we’ve demonstrated that this effort truly pays off – and this electric corridor milestone shows just how quickly the future of sustainable transport is taking shape.”
