UK: Grundon adds four DAF XD Electric waste collection trucks
Grundon Waste Management has expanded its electric truck fleet with four DAF XD Electric refuse collection vehicles. The company now operates ten battery-electric trade waste trucks and plans to add another five DAF XD Electrics to its fleet.
Grundon Waste Management has expanded its battery-electric fleet with four DAF XD FAN 270 Electric 6×2 rear-steer rigid trucks fitted with specialist trade waste collection bodies from Dennis Eagle. The delivery marks the company’s largest order of battery-electric trucks to date and increases its fleet to ten electric trade waste vehicles, alongside one battery-electric tractor unit from another manufacturer.
The new trucks will operate from Grundon’s Colnbrook depot near Slough, serving routes in Greater London. They are equipped with battery packs offering 420 kWh of installed capacity, around 370 kWh of usable energy and a claimed range of more than 200 miles (322 kilometres). According to the company, the XD Electric’s five-star Direct Vision Standard rating was a key factor in the purchasing decision, as it supports compliance with London’s safety requirements for heavy goods vehicles.
The investment forms part of Grundon’s broader electrification strategy. The company has operated five repowered electric waste collection vehicles since 2023 and also introduced an electric truck from another manufacturer to evaluate different technologies before committing to a larger purchase.
“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,” said Stephen Townsend, Group Fleet Engineer at Grundon Waste Management. “Once we started operating, we started learning, along with the repowered we took an early OEM new-build from a competitor as a comparator.”
Townsend said the original proposal had been to purchase a single DAF XD Electric. “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,” he said. “So, we invested a sizeable amount on electric trade waste-bodied vehicles, which has proved a great move so far.”
Grundon charges the new trucks using electricity generated at its own waste-to-energy facility. The charging area is located around 500 metres from the plant and connected via an existing 6 MW electrical cable.
According to the company, the facility can generate up to 38 MW of electricity, while its current operations consume only around two per cent of that output. Grundon said it has invested more than £700,000 in charging infrastructure and associated electrical upgrades, and that it will further expand its electric fleet with five additional DAF XD Electric trucks featuring a slightly smaller battery pack. These are scheduled to enter service as part of its waste collection operations.