Montreal, Canada – In celebration of its fifth anniversary and its “Toward a Better Future Together” environmental sustainability action plan, Volvo Trucks North America customer, Coke Canada Bottling Limited, has introduced its first Volvo VNR Electric trucks. These trucks are part of a six-truck pilot program of electric vehicles designed to serve the company’s iconic “Red Fleet” customer delivery routes in 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.
The deployment of Volvo VNR Electric trucks aligns with Coke Canada Bottling’s “Toward a Better Future Together” action plan, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from direct sources and supplied energy by 46.2% by 2030. In addition to these zero-tailpipe emission vehicles, Coke Canada Bottling is enhancing fuel efficiency in its fleet by electrifying light-duty service vehicles and utilizing alternative fuel sources.
The debut of the Volvo VNR Electric trucks was marked during a special fifth birthday celebration at the company’s distribution center in east Montreal. The center is home to a fleet of 650 heavy-duty vehicles that serve customers across the region. The event included in-person driving experiences for employees and demonstrated the commitment of various stakeholders to the initiative.
Peter Voorhoeve, President of Volvo Trucks North America, expressed support for Coke Canada Bottling’s sustainability efforts, stating, “The deployment of the first battery-electric Volvo VNR Electric trucks at their fifth birthday celebration demonstrates the importance of pursuing environmental sustainability goals, which benefit the community and employees at every level.”
Todd Parsons, CEO at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited, highlighted the significance of the initiative, saying, “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.”
Coke Canada Bottling’s Volvo VNR Electric trucks feature a six-battery configuration capable of covering up to 440 km (275 miles) on a single charge. They are deployed for daily round trips of 150 km (93 miles) from the distribution center in Montreal to customer locations in the region. The company has also installed three 150 kW DC chargers with nine dispensers at its Montreal Distribution Center to support drive-through charging for the Volvo VNR Electric trucks. These trucks have a battery capacity of 565 kWh and can reach an 80% charge in just 90 minutes.
The Volvo VNR Electric trucks will receive support from a local Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle dealership, providing comprehensive assistance throughout the customer’s electromobility journey, including securing incentive funding to reduce the cost of battery-electric trucks.
Coke Canada Bottling utilized federal and provincial incentives, including Écocamionnage and the Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles (iMHZEV) Program funding, to offset the cost of the six Volvo VNR Electric trucks.