Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is trialling a fully electric HGV in the UK, to deliver soft drinks to convenience and wholesale customers.
CCEP is working with its logistics partner Maritime on the trial, which commenced in January.
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 has covered more than 7,000 miles since the proof of concept trial began, saving an estimated 12.43 tonnes of CO2e compared with equivalent diesel journeys.
It is operating on dedicated delivery routes from CCEP’s manufacturing site in Wakefield, and on the road five days a week. Charging takes place at Maritime’s transport depot, also in Wakefield, using electricity sourced from 100% renewable energy.
“We’re continuing to invest across our operations to build a more sustainable and resilient supply chain, with initiatives like this playing an important role in how we deliver against our commitments,” said Nick Hayward, CCEP logistics director.
Maritime said the “nature of the work, with planned routes and consistent payloads, makes it well suited to electrification”.
Both businesses are now assessing how electric vehicles can be applied more widely across CCEP’s network.
“Having worked closely with CCEP across both road and rail for several years, introducing an eHGV into live service is a natural progression,” said Tom Williams, deputy CEO at Maritime Transport.
“Together, we’re very much focused on reducing emissions across the supply chain through a combination of modal shift, low-emission fuels, and the adoption of new vehicle technologies,” he added. “Having the Mercedes out on the road allows us to assess its performance in real operating conditions, understand where it delivers the greatest value, and explore how it can support our wider decarbonisation ambitions over time.”
Maritime – which has been working with CCEP since 2014, covering both road and rail – is introducing 56 eHGVs across its national network through this year, alongside development of one of the country’s largest independent charging networks, which will boast more than 22MW of installed power once complete.
Rollout of the electric fleet is already underway, with 12 eHGVs now in operation at Wakefield – the first site to go live – a further 10 based at Maritime’s rail terminal in Tamworth, and two eHGVs at East Midlands Gateway.
CCEP has committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) by 2040, alongside a 30% reduction target by 2030.
Transport, including its own fleet and third-party distribution, accounts for around 10% of the company’s total carbon footprint.
Hayward said: “By working with expert partners like Maritime, we can strengthen our capabilities and make meaningful progress towards our long-term sustainability ambitions.”
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