Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) today started using the first of a planned fleet of 30 electric trucks to make last mile deliveries to local customers in Belgium.
The first five vehicles went out in the Antwerp area. Using Renault trucks, the beverage manufacturer is electrifying a fifth of its truck fleet and creating the claimed largest fleet of electric trucks in Belgium.
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The company will also reduce its CO2 emissions by 75% compared to diesel trucks.
“Investing in electric trucks will allow [us] to cut CO2 emissions by 30% across the entire value chain by 2030 and become climate neutral by 2040,” said An Vermeulen, VP & country director for Belgium and Luxembourg.
“Most of our deliveries are very local, to supermarkets and businesses near our sites, with routes averaging 150km per day,” added Vermeulen. “The transition to electric vehicles makes perfect sense, thanks to a total investment of around EUR7m. This is one example of our efforts to take a long-term and sustainable approach at the local level in Belgium.”
Optimised local routes
Coca-Cola chose a configuration allowing these EVs to cover 200km daily, which is more than enough for 40% of CCEP’s current local delivery routes. Each truck has an on-site charging station to fully recharge the battery overnight. These charging stations are powered by 100% green energy generated at the site.
“We carefully analysed Coca-Cola’s logistics data, produced realistic route simulations, and carried out tests under real conditions that looked at energy consumption as well as driver comfort and safety,” said Siegfried Van Brabandt, managing director of Renault Trucks Belux.
“The trucks are also equipped with 360° camera systems to eliminate blind spots, a loudspeaker to warn pedestrians and cyclists, and a clear door for optimal visibility on the passenger side.”
“We will keep taking steps to decarbonise our fleet until 2030 while continuing to study market developments to determine the future of our fleets by considering parameters such as covering longer distances, vehicle autonomy, and heavier loads,” added Vermeulen.
“Next year we will produce an electric 44 tonne truck which goes much farther on a single charge,” said Van Brabandt.
