DAF XD Electric quartet enter service at Grundon Waste Management

Established in 1929 by Steve Grundon, Grundon Waste Management now employs over 850 people, running 350 powered vehicles from 7.5 to 44-tonne and over 90 trailers. The fleet mix is comprised of 4x2, 6x2 and 8x2 rigids, which are a combination of skip, trade waste, hook loaders, flatbed and crane, boxes, double decks and curtainsiders – of which almost half are DAF trucks. Among the mix are also 60 tractors carrying wet kits or blowers to cover the comprehensive mix of trailers.

A key consideration for the operator investing in DAF products was to have the opportunity to gain five-star Direct Vision Standard ratings on some applications. The new XD Electric – which, together with the XF Electric, was voted International Truck of the Year 2026 – is therefore ideally suited to operations in Greater London. The high star rating was essential because the quartet, which all feature bespoke bodywork from Dennis Eagle, will operate out of the company’s Colnbrook operation near Slough. The trucks carry 420kWh of stored energy, which equates to approximately 370kWh useable, giving a range in excess of 200 miles on a full charge.

“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,” explained 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.”

“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 added. “So, we invested a sizeable amount on electric trade waste-bodied vehicles, which has proved a great move so far!”

This investment in electric vehicle technology from DAF Trucks is the latest move by the family-owned business to prepare for the future and to again improve its sustainability credentials. The Colnbrook site is also home to Grundon’s own power supply, which will be responsible for recharging the EVs.

“We generate our own power by recovering energy from non-recyclable waste we’ve collected and turning it into electricity to power the trucks,” explained Townsend. “The truck charging site is located just 500 metres from our waste-to-energy plant and is connected via an existing 6MW electrical cable. The facility generates up to 38MW of electricity, while our current operations consume approximately 2% of this output. As we own the site, we decided to invest over £700,000, which will secure the future of the waste processing and EV operation. This investment has enabled us to set up a suitable infrastructure for charging vehicles and supplying power to our processing facilities.”

With the charging infrastructure and scheduling established, the drivers of Grundon’s new DAF XD Electrics were more than happy with what they saw. “The first reaction of the drivers on driver training when they experienced the new XDs was one of excitement,” said Townsend. “Having been used to driving the older repowered units, going to a completely modern vehicle with real Direct Vision supported by additional technology left them amazed. The fact that the XD Electric is quiet and has plenty of useable power just adds to the appeal.”

While there were some concerns within the driver fraternity about range, Townsend said these were dissolved once they had first-hand experience of the product itself. “In the early stages of our journey with Electric Vehicles, we adapted the routes to suit the vehicle. Now with the XD Electrics which cover a greater range, the drivers feel more comfortable in what the vehicles can do,” explains the Grundon man. “It’s also easy for drivers to go out on their rounds charged and return for a recharge if needed leaving the trucks ready for the next shift or day.”

Townsend confirmed that the four new DAFs will soon be joined by five more XD Electrics that will run with a slightly smaller battery pack and be used as part of Grundon’s waste operations powered by the waste they collect.