Coca-Cola launches largest hybrid electric delivery truck fleet

As part of its overall commitment to energy conservation and climate change, Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) 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.

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. The company launched a new, larger hybrid electric tractor (55,000 gross combination vehicle), which is the standard bulk delivery truck. The hybrid tractor uses about 30 percent less fuel and produces about 30 percent fewer emissions than standard tractors.