Loblaw Companies Limited says it has reached a major milestone in its net-zero carbon emissions strategy with the roll-out of its first fully electric transport truck.
The vehicle is a battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia manufactured by Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) – the first series production eCascadia handed over to a customer in Canada, and one of five Loblaw expects to put into service in the months ahead. In 2017, Loblaw pledged that by 2030 it would decarbonize its fleet of more than 160 company-owned day-cab trucks.
“It’s no secret that vehicle decarbonization is central to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and we want to lead in the adoption of this new technology,” says Brian Springer, vice president of national transport operations. “For nearly two years, we’ve piloted different vehicles across various parts of our business, and we’re excited to roll-out a solution that works.”
The first electric truck is making daily runs between Loblaw’s distribution centre in Boucherville, Que., and Loblaw stores in the Greater Montreal Area, which include Provigo, Provigo Le Marche, and Maxi. The trucks will get up to 370 kilometers per charge while hauling up to 82,000 pounds of gradually diminishing gross weight, and will return to the Boucherville distribution centre’s new charging station to recharge daily.
Loblaw says the deployment of electric trucks is one of over 250 projects it has completed in the last year to help it achieve net-zero carbon emissions – an important part of its ESG commitments and a significant step in fighting climate change.
“Retailers like Loblaw have big ambitions to decarbonize the thousands of trucks that transport the food Canadians grow and consume every day, This first battery electric Cascadia in the hand of a Canadian customer marks an important milestone to move the industry toward a more sustainable, safe and efficient future,” says DTNA senior vice president of sales and marketing, David Carson.
