Antwerp, Belgium: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is to start using 30 electric trucks to make last-mile deliveries in Belgium.
The first five Renault trucks will operate in Antwerp. The beverage manufacturer is electrifying one-fifth of its Belgian truck fleet.
“Our industry is facing difficulties that require rapid adaptation, but we are also firmly committed to maintaining a long-term approach. Investing in electric trucks will allow Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to cut CO2 emissions by 30% across the entire value chain by 2030 and become climate neutral by 2040,” says An Vermeulen, country director, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
The first five Renault Trucks are E-tech D and D wide. “Most of our deliveries are very local, to supermarkets and businesses near our sites, with routes averaging 150km per day,” Vermeulen said.
“The transition to electric vehicles makes perfect sense, thanks to a total investment of around €7m. This is one example of our efforts to take a long-term and sustainable approach at the local level in Belgium.”
Coca-Cola chose a configuration allowing Renault Truck’s electric vehicles to cover 200km daily, which is more than enough for 40% of Coke’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.
Coca-Cola worked closely with Renault Trucks to select the right trucks and create the best loading conditions for this local use: “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,” says Siegfried Van Brabandt, managing director, Renault Trucks Belux.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners wants to expand its electric vehicles and use a 44-tonner next year.
