14 DAY TRIAL // Six eStar all-electric, zero-emission trucks will join Coca-Cola’s growing fleet of alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) in North America from this month – an AFV fleet that will surpass the 750-unit mark by the end of this year.
Currently, Coca-Cola takes pride in having the largest heavy-duty hybrid electric fleet in North America with more than 650 hybrid delivery trucks deployed in major U.S. cities.
The new eStar vehicles can reportedly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 10 tons annually, and will be deployed in San Francisco, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Hartford, Conn., with two trucks in Los Angeles.
Built by Navistar, the eStar vehicles can run up to 100 miles per charge and can be fully recharged in six to eight hours. A quick-change cassette-type battery can be swapped out in 20 minutes.
The eStar also features a windshield design with nearly 180-degree visibility, improving safety, and a low-floor design allowing easy loading and unloading. Moreover, the vehicle's noise level is almost non-existent.
"Our energy efficiency work is focused on meaningfully reducing the overall carbon footprint of our operations. We do this through a variety of technologies that produce energy efficiencies across all areas of our business, including fleet, manufacturing and sales and marketing equipment," said Brian Kelley, Chief Product Supply Officer at Coca-Cola Refreshments. "The new eStar vehicles are not only an example of our investment in innovation, but also an example of how we are delivering on our promise to grow the business without growing carbon emissions by consistently improving our energy efficiency practices."
But this is just one of the few initiative deployed by the company in North-America with the aim of reducing its carbon footprint. Coca-Cola is also evaluating light-duty propane and natural gas options and is training its drivers in eco-driving techniques, such as minimal braking and early gear changes, through the Company's proprietary Smartdriver program.