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Corporations across the country are making the effort to reduce their impact on the environment, from the utilization of post-consumer waste in products to energy-saving manufacturing processes.
Now, companies are beginning to address the ecological issues that come with transporting their products. Transportation accounts for nearly 30 percent of our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions according to the Environmental Protection Agency, so the sector is coming under pressure to change. A number of powerhouse corporations have already begun accelerating down this new “green” path by retrofitting their truck fleets to reduce emissions and use of fossil fuels.
Coca-Cola Distribution
Coca-Cola Enterprises, the bottling, marketing and distribution branch of the beverage company, is doubling the size of its hybrid truck fleet, finishing up with 327 alternative-fuel delivery trucks in the U.S. and Canada.
The recent order of 185 additional trucks enhances its original fleet of 142. Each truck uses 30 percent less fuel and emits 30 percent fewer emissions, despite being similar or heavier than the standard-engine delivery trucks. GreenBiz reports that each truck costs $98,000, which is about $33,000 more than standard bulk delivery vehicles. Coca Cola Enterprises does not mind the extra expense, as the spruced up hybrid fleet falls in line with the company’s mission to promote corporate responsibility and sustainability.
The trucks will be deployed in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington, D.C.
Federal Express
Federal Express is the latest company to jump on the hybrid bandwagon, adding 92 hybrid delivery trucks to its force.
In comparison to FedEx’s traditional trucks, the repurposed vehicles are 44 percent more fuel efficient, release 75 percent fewer smog-causing emissions, and emit 96 percent less particulates. The trucks were gutted of their standard engines, transmissions, and fuel tank, and were retrofitted with new diesel engines, lithium-ion batteries, and hybrid-electric-motor generators from Eaton Corp.
The hybrid fleet will debut in San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles, and can be recognized by the FedEx EarthSmart logo. The company’s green initiative won’t stop here — FedEx has vowed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, in addition to incorporating 30 percent biofuel into its jet fuel by 2020, according to GreenBiz.com. So far, the 50 percent increase in hybrid trucks leaves the total number of “green” FedEx autos at 264 — a good start, but not nearly enough to take the cake.
UPS
Shipping giant UPS is rolling out 300 new alternative-fuel vehicles in Atlanta (41 vehicles), Denver (43), Los Angeles (9), Oklahoma City (100), Ontario (18), Sacramento (18), and San Ramon (63).
The vehicles run on compressed natural gas (CNG), which Automotive Fleet estimates emit 20 percent less emissions than the cleanest diesel engines. The company boasts the largest number of privately owned alternative-fuel vehicles in its industry, with 1,819. UPS has also deployed CNG-, liquefied natural gas-, propane-, electric-, and hybrid-electric vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, China, Mexico, France, Germany, Chile, and the United Kingdom.
