Coca-Cola Launches North America’s Largest Hybrid Electric Delivery Trucks

Jan. 20, 2009
As part of its overall commitment to energy conservation and climate change, Coca-Cola Enterprises plans to deploy an incremental 185 hybrid electric trucks across the United States and Canada in 2009

As part of its overall commitment to energy conservation and climate change, Coca-Cola Enterprises plans to deploy an incremental 185 hybrid electric trucks across the United States and Canada in 2009, bringing their total number of hybrid electric delivery trucks to 327, the largest such fleet in North America.

CCE has established five corporate responsibility and sustainability strategic focus areas, three of which - energy conservation/climate change, water stewardship, and sustainable packaging/recycling - are related to the environment.

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As part of its overall commitment to energy conservation and climate change, Coca-Cola Enterprises plans to deploy an incremental 185 hybrid electric trucks across the United States and Canada in 2009, bringing their total number of hybrid electric delivery trucks to 327, the largest such fleet in North America.

CCE has established five corporate responsibility and sustainability strategic focus areas, three of which - energy conservation/climate change, water stewardship, and sustainable packaging/recycling - are related to the environment.

In addition to the hybrid electric delivery trucks on the road in Atlanta and across North America, CCE facilities are focusing on becoming more sustainable with the activation of its subsidiary, Coca-Cola Recycling, which is focused on developing recycling solutions for its business and communities, and the installation of water-saving technology and energy-efficient lighting in its facilities. Just last week, CCE earned the Orion Energy Systems Environmental Stewardship Award for its commitment to energy conservation and climate change in California.

The company has 142 hybrid electric delivery vehicles on the road, the majority of which are 12-bay box trucks (33,000 gross vehicle weight). This is the largest heavy duty fleet in North America. Today, the company launched a new, larger hybrid electric tractor (55,000 gross combination vehicle), which is the standard bulk delivery truck the company uses for large deliveries.

The hybrid tractor uses about 30 percent less fuel and produces about 30 percent fewer emissions than standard tractors. A motor/generator, working with the transmission and a series of lithium ion batteries, allows the truck to source electrical power instead of gas when traveling at speeds below 30 mph, reducing emissions and fuel use. The tractor builds on the success CCE has had with their fleet of hybrid electric 12-bay trucks and marries hybrid technology from Eaton Corporation with state-of-the-art equipment from key suppliers, Kenworth Corporation and Cummins Engines.

Beginning in 2001, CCE began an intensive research and design program with their suppliers to develop, test and produce hybrid electric trucks. By the end of 2008, CCE had deployed 142 hybrid electric trucks, in cities like Atlanta; Baltimore; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; Toronto; Vancouver; and Washington, DC. In 2009, the company plans to deploy the larger hybrid tractors to: Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; New York; Portland; San Francisco; Seattle; Tampa; Toronto; Vancouver; and Washington, DC.

Additionally, the company plans to deploy incremental hybrid 12-bay trucks to Albuquerque; Columbus; Jacksonville; Las Vegas; and Montreal.