Coke Canada Bottling launches EV truck fleet with Volvo

Coke Canada Bottling runs 650 heavy-duty vehicles, and the company targets reducing carbon emissions by 46.2% by 2030.

As for the six Volvo electric trucks, Coke Canada Bottling expects delivery throughout this year. The new models will form part of the “Red Fleet” of Coca-Cola branded trucks serving in and around Montreal.

Volvo launched the VNR Electric in early 2022. They belong to US Class 8, and Coke Canada Bottling opted for a six-battery configuration that can cover up to 440 km (275 miles) on a single charge, as the trucks make several daily round trips of 150 km (93 miles) from the distribution centre in Montreal to customer locations. The company also installs three 150 kW DC chargers with nine dispensers at its Montreal depot.

“Our ‘Red Fleet’ is iconic on the roads of our country, and we’re extremely proud to partner with Volvo Trucks to be the first Canadian food and beverage manufacturer to use battery-electric trucks,” said Todd Parsons, CEO at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited. “The electrification of our fleet is a key component of our plan to reduce direct carbon emissions. We know we continue to have work to do and look forward to working together with Volvo Trucks on opportunities to expand this pilot in years to come where it makes sense.”

While perhaps a first for Coca-Cola in Canada, distributors of the company’s sugary soft drinks in other countries have also been looking to decarbonise deliveries. For example, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) in Belgium reportedly ordered 30 zero-emission vehicles from Renault Trucks in November 2022.

Coca-Cola headquarters also signed an open letter to the European Union in February, asking the Commission to allow only electric company cars and delivery vans in Europe from 2030 and HGVs from 2035.

Update 21 September 2023

Volvo Trucks North America customer Coke Canada Bottling has unveiled its first Volvo VNR Electric trucks. The trucks are part of a six-truck pilot of electric vehicles to service their ‘Red Fleet’ customer delivery routes throughout the Greater Montreal Area. Coke Canada Bottling was the first Canadian food and beverage manufacturer to announce the adoption of electric Class 8 trucks into its fleet.

” This milestone is not just a nod to our past and present, but also a beacon for the exciting future we eagerly anticipate. Piloting the electrification of some of our ‘Red Fleet’, an iconic presence on the roads of our country, underscores our ambition to be the leading beverage partner in Canada by earning our social license to operate, and we are immensely proud to partner with Volvo Trucks on this initiative,” said Todd Parsons, CEO at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited.

volvotrucks.us, volvotrucks.us (update)