M&S and its transport subsidiary Gist are deploying ten new DAF XD electric trucks across its Foods and Fashion, Home and Beauty operations. The units include DAF’s first UK inverter-equipped truck to enable electric-powered refrigeration developed through the Government-funded eFREIGHT 2030 project.
Five of the ten vehicles are supported through the eFREIGHT 2030, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered with Innovate UK. One of these units is fitted with an integrated inverter which draws power from the vehicle’s main DC battery and converts it into AC electricity enabling the trailer’s refrigeration unit to be powered directly from the truck. Refrigeration being run on electricity rather than diesel represents a significant step forward in the transition towards fully electrified transport solutions.
The vehicles will be deployed across two logistics operations with five operating on Fashion, Home and Beauty distribution and five operating on Retail Food. Both duty cycles are well suited to electrification with predictable routing alongside demanding real-world payloads and utilisation levels.
The DAF XD Electric consistently achieves up to 300 miles range on a single charge and the planned daily range in M&S operations will sit between 250 and 300 miles. Operating at gross weights between 32- and 42-tonnes the units will be running on both single and double shift patterns supporting annual mileages of approximately 100,000 km per vehicle.
The rollout builds on the proven success of M&S’s earlier DAF LF Electric deployment, which completed a 24-month proof-in-service programme on intensive, temperature-controlled multi-drop operations. That programme demonstrated that electric trucks could meet demanding operational requirements, providing the confidence to move beyond pilot use and into scaled deployment.
M&S Group Fleet Manager, Mick Pethard, said, “The LF Electric gave us the confidence that electric trucks can perform reliably in demanding retail operations. We’re not just trialling electric anymore – with the XD Electric, we’re scaling-up. The real-world range we’re seeing, combined with strong driver acceptance, means electric tractor units are becoming a practical solution for mainstream logistics.”
Simon Smith, CEO of Voltempo which leads eFREIGHT 2030, said, ”This is a great example of what can be achieved when eFREIGHT 2030 partners combine their expertise. By supporting more demanding applications for electric HGVs, this first-of-its-kind inverter will help accelerate the transition of temperature-controlled trailers as well as trucks to zero-emission road freight.”
The addition of the DAF XD Electric tractors underlines M&S’s intent to broaden its zero tailpipe emission capability across its distribution network, signalling a move beyond demonstration projects towards fully integrated electric operations.