Coke rolls out bigger NA hybrid fleet

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola says it’s deploying the largest hybrid electric delivery truck fleet in North America.

Atlanta-based CCE plans to deploy another 185 hybrid electric trucks across the U.S. and Canada in 2009, including larger medium-duty trucks, bringing its total number of hybrid electric delivery trucks to 327.

The company has 142 hybrid electric delivery vehicles on the road right now, the majority of which are 12-bay box trucks (33,000 pounds GVW). This time, larger hybrid electric tractors (55,000-pound GVW) will hit the road.

The hybrid tractor uses about 30 percent less fuel and produces about 30 percent fewer emissions than standard trucks, the soft drink maker says. A motor/generator, working with the transmission and a series of lithium ion batteries, allows the truck to source electrical power instead of gas when traveling at speeds below 30 mph, reducing emissions and fuel use.

The tractor builds on the success CCE has had with its fleet of hybrid electric 12-bay trucks and marries hybrid technology from Eaton Corporation with state-of-the-art equipment from Kenworth and Cummins.

Beginning in 2001, CCE began an intensive research and design program with its suppliers to develop, test and produce hybrid electric trucks.