Five of the vehicles are already in service, while the remaining five are expected to join the fleet during 2026. Half of the order is supported by the eFREIGHT 2030 project, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme.
Trucks split between two distribution networks
Five DAF XD Electric units will be used for Fashion, Home and Beauty distribution, with the other five assigned to retail food movements.
M&S said both operations are suited to electrification because they use relatively predictable routes while still requiring vehicles to carry demanding payloads and maintain high utilisation levels.
The trucks are expected to operate at gross vehicle weights of between 32 and 42 tonnes, covering both regional distribution and heavier food logistics work.
Depending on the depot and duty cycle, they will run on either single- or double-shift patterns. M&S expects each vehicle to cover around 100,000 kilometres a year, mainly on short- and medium-distance trunking and distribution routes.
This operating model is intended to allow charging to be planned around depot schedules.
Up to 300 miles of real-world range
Each tractor is fitted with five battery packs providing 525 kWh of total energy storage and 462 kWh of usable capacity.
According to M&S, the vehicle already operating in regular service is consistently achieving up to 300 miles on one charge. Planned daily distances are expected to range from 250 to 300 miles, depending on the route, vehicle weight and operating conditions.
The company said drivers have responded positively to the electric tractor’s handling, cab comfort, low noise levels and smooth power delivery.
Refrigerated trailer powered from truck battery
One of the five vehicles supported through eFREIGHT 2030 has been equipped with an integrated inverter that draws power from the truck’s main direct-current battery and converts it into alternating current.
This allows the refrigeration unit on the trailer to take power directly from the vehicle rather than relying on a separate diesel-powered system.
M&S said it is the first use of this inverter technology on a DAF truck in the UK. The system is intended to reduce the remaining use of diesel in temperature-controlled transport and support the development of fully electric refrigerated operations.
The eFREIGHT 2030 programme is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
Deployment follows two-year LF Electric trial
The expansion follows a 24-month proof-in-service programme using a DAF LF Electric on intensive, temperature-controlled multi-drop operations.
M&S said the trial showed that a battery-electric truck could meet the operational demands of retail distribution, giving the company enough confidence to move towards a larger deployment.
“The LF Electric gave us the confidence that electric trucks can perform reliably in demanding retail operations,” said Mick Pethard, M&S Group fleet manager.
“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.”
The ten new tractors will broaden M&S’s use of zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles across its distribution network, including both ambient and temperature-controlled operations.
