UK waste management company Grundon Waste Management has expanded its battery-electric commercial vehicle fleet with the delivery of four DAF XD Electric refuse collection trucks, marking its largest single order of electric trucks to date.
The latest investment increases the company’s fleet to 10 battery-electric trade waste collection vehicles, alongside one electric tractor unit supplied by another manufacturer.
Four New Electric Refuse Trucks
The new vehicles are DAF XD FAN 270 Electric 6×2 rear-steer rigid trucks fitted with specialist trade waste collection bodies supplied by Dennis Eagle.
Based at Grundon’s Colnbrook depot near Slough, the trucks will operate on commercial waste collection routes throughout Greater London.
Each vehicle is equipped with battery packs providing 420kWh of installed capacity, approximately 370kWh of usable energy and a claimed driving range exceeding 200 miles (322 kilometres).
Grundon said the DAF XD Electric’s five-star Direct Vision Standard rating was an important factor in the purchasing decision, helping ensure compliance with London’s heavy goods vehicle safety requirements.
Building an Electric Fleet
The purchase forms part of Grundon’s wider strategy to transition its waste collection fleet to battery-electric vehicles.
The company has operated five repowered electric refuse trucks since 2023 and previously introduced an electric truck from another manufacturer to compare different vehicle technologies before committing to a larger procurement.
Group Fleet Engineer Stephen Townsend said the company initially began electrification by converting existing vehicles because original equipment manufacturers had limited electric offerings available.
“We started our EV journey when we had some of our existing five-star chassis repowered because the OEMs didn’t seem to be ready and we always like to be in front of the curve when it comes to technology and compliance.”
Townsend added that the original proposal was to purchase a single DAF XD Electric before the board opted for a significantly larger investment.
“On approaching the business to consider the next electric vehicle, and my suggestion of the XD Electric chassis, the board came back requesting that we place an order for four vehicles.”
“So, we invested a sizeable amount on electric trade waste-bodied vehicles, which has proved a great move so far.”
Powered by Waste-to-Energy
Grundon charges the new electric trucks using electricity generated at its own waste-to-energy facility.
The charging infrastructure is located approximately 500 metres from the power plant and connected through an existing 6MW electrical supply.
According to the company, the facility is capable of generating up to 38MW of electricity, while its current operations consume only around 2% of that output.
Grundon has invested more than £700,000 in charging infrastructure and associated electrical upgrades to support the growing electric fleet.
The company also confirmed plans to introduce a further five DAF XD Electric refuse trucks, fitted with slightly smaller battery packs, as it continues expanding battery-electric waste collection operations.
