Coca-Cola’s familiar service vans are getting a makeover just in time
for the New Year. Coca-Cola is converting all of its newly purchased
2014 Chevrolet Express service vans into fuel-efficient hybrid-electric
vehicles using XL Hybrids’ innovative powertrain technology. The updated
vans will be traversing roads across the country by year’s end.
Coca-Cola currently operates the largest heavy-duty hybrid-electric
delivery fleet in North America. The addition of 100 hybrid service vans
builds upon this work by expanding the variety of fuel-efficient options
in the Company’s light-duty fleet.
“Adoption of this hybrid technology supports Coca-Cola’s goal to reduce
the carbon footprint embedded in ‘the drink in your hand’ by 25 percent
by 2020,” said Bruce Karas, Vice President of Environment and
Sustainability for Coca-Cola. “We continue to make energy-saving
investments because they are good for business, good for the communities
we serve and good for the planet.”
Early test results of this hybrid technology were positive, showing a 15
to 20 percent fuel reduction compared to the Company’s conventional
vans. The 100 new hybrid vans are expected to eliminate about 4,000
total tons of carbon dioxide emissions that conventional vans would
produce over their 10-year life span.
As a result of the low maintenance and fuel savings, the powertrain unit
pays for itself three times over its life span.
“XL Hybrids provides technology that helps Coca-Cola meet its emissions
reduction goals while saving money,” said Justin Ashton, Vice President
of Business Development and Co-founder at XL Hybrids. “Our company’s
goal is to accelerate fuel and emissions reductions at a large scale. To
accomplish this, we had to design and commercialize technology that
provides a solid economic return on investment to corporate customers.”
In addition to the hybrid service vans, Coca-Cola recently announced the
roll out of 16 first-of-its-kind refrigerated plug-in electric vehicles.
These trucks deliver the Company’s Odwalla® brand beverages in the San
Francisco Bay Area. Coca-Cola is also making carbon footprint reductions
across its manufacturing processes, packaging and refrigeration
equipment.
About XL Hybrids
XL Hybrids designs, manufactures and installs hybrid electric
powertrains for commercial vans and trucks. The company’s patent-pending
hybrid electric powertrain can be installed on existing vehicles or as
an upfit on new ones. By storing energy wasted in braking and reapplying
it during acceleration, XL Hybrids technology decreases fuel use and
carbon dioxide emissions by up to 21.2 percent on urban or suburban
routes, while operating with the same durability and reliability as
traditional vans and trucks. XL Hybrids was founded by MIT alumni and is
based in Boston. For more information, visit www.xlhybrids.com.
Follow us on Twitter @XLHybrids.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still
brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and
recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar
brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater,
Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are
the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and
juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage
distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our
beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an
enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is
focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support
active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for
our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities
where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the
world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system
associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com,
follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo,
visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com
or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
Copyright Business Wire 2013