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MONTREAL, 22 September 2023: In celebration of its fifth anniversary and as part of its commitment to the ‘Toward a Better Future Together’ environmental sustainability action plan, Coke Canada Bottling Limited has unveiled its inaugural fleet of Volvo VNR Electric trucks. These state-of-the-art electric vehicles, launched in a pilot program of six trucks, will serve the legendary ‘Red Fleet’ customer delivery routes across the Greater Montreal Area. Notably, Coke Canada Bottling was the first Canadian food and beverage manufacturer to embrace electric Class 8 trucks, marking a significant stride towards a greener future.
Driving Sustainability Through Volvo VNR Electric Trucks
Aligned with Coke Canada Bottling’s ‘Toward a Better Future Together’ initiative, the Volvo VNR Electric trucks play a pivotal role in the company’s mission to reduce carbon emissions by 46.2 percent from direct sources and supplied energy by 2030. These zero-tailpipe emission vehicles are just one facet of the company’s commitment to eco-conscious practices, which also include electrification of light-duty service vehicles and exploring alternative fuel sources.
Unveiling at Fifth Birthday Celebration
Coke Canada Bottling marked this milestone during a special fifth-anniversary celebration at its distribution center in east Montreal, which houses a fleet of 650 heavy-duty vehicles serving customers throughout the region. The event featured hands-on driving experiences for employees and garnered support from various stakeholders.
Supporting Sustainability Goals
Peter Voorhoeve, President of Volvo Trucks North America, expressed Volvo’s dedication to supporting Coke Canada Bottling in this pilot program. He emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability goals and their far-reaching benefits for communities and employees.
Coca-Cola Canada Bottling CEO’s Vision
Todd Parsons, Chief Executive Officer at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited, shared his enthusiasm for this initiative, emphasizing the company’s ambition to be a leading beverage partner in Canada. He highlighted the potential of this pilot partnership with Volvo Trucks and the importance of earning a social license to operate.
Key Features of Volvo VNR Electric Trucks
- Impressive Range: The Volvo VNR Electric trucks feature a six-battery configuration capable of covering up to 440 km (275 miles) on a single charge. They efficiently handle multiple daily round trips of 150 km (93 miles) from Montreal’s distribution center to customer locations.
- Charging Infrastructure: Coke Canada Bottling has installed three 150 kW DC chargers with nine dispensers at its Montreal Distribution Center to facilitate drive-through charging for the Volvo VNR Electric trucks. These trucks boast a battery capacity of 565 kWh and can attain an 80 percent charge in just 90 minutes.
- Certified Support: The Volvo VNR Electric trucks will receive comprehensive support from a local Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle dealership. This includes sales and service training to assist customers throughout their electromobility journey, including securing incentive funding to reduce the cost of these battery-electric trucks.
- Utilizing Incentives: Coke Canada Bottling utilized federal and provincial incentives, such as Écocamionnage and the Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (iMHZEV) Program funding, to offset the cost of the six Volvo VNR Electric trucks.
Conclusion
Coke Canada Bottling’s adoption of Volvo VNR Electric trucks represents a significant stride towards a sustainable future. These trucks, combined with innovative charging infrastructure and strong support, exemplify the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation.
