Loblaw Unveils First Fully-Electric Class 8 Truck, First Step Toward All-Electric Zero Carbon Emissions Fleet
VANCOUVER, CA – This month Loblaw Companies Limited has unveiled a first-of-its-kind innovation and reaffirmed its commitment to reduce carbon emissions and modernize its trucking operations with an entirely electric or hybrid fleet. Representatives of the company were joined by Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change to unveil a 53-foot, fully-electric Class 8 truck, capable of making commercial grocery deliveries with zero carbon emissions.
"As one of Canada's largest energy users, given the size and scope of our retail network and supply chain, we know we have a critical role to play in helping Canada reach its carbon reduction targets," said Rob Wiebe, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain. "We are committed to leading responsibly in this area, working with our partners like BYD for sustainable solutions to help our company, and our country, meet those goals."
The company noted, in a press release, that this first-of-its-kind truck marks an important step as the company moves to transitions its corporately-owned trucking fleet to electric vehicles.
The fully-electric Class 8 truck and hybrid refrigerated trailer, manufactured by BYD, both employ technology that the retailer notes will be expanded to Loblaw's fleet in the coming years. Loblaw also noted that eliminating the use of diesel in transport trucks and refrigerated trailers could reduce more than 94,000 tons of C02 emissions per year, the equivalent of removing more than 20,000 cars from the road.
As part of its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint 30 percent by 2030, Loblaw has committed to reduce the intensity of transportation emissions to 0.087 gCO2 e/t-km and will continue work to bring technological advances throughout the supply chain. The company has been working on several carbon-reducing strategies since 2011, focusing on increasing energy and transportation efficiencies, reducing refrigerant emissions, and improving waste diversion efforts.
By 2030, Loblaw plans to have reduced emissions associated with electricity consumption by 35 percent, transportation by 25 percent, and refrigerants by 50 percent. And the company plans to improve waste diversion to 80 percent in stores and 95 percent in distribution centers.
Will other retailers follow suit, making strides to increase efficiencies while reducing carbon-emissions? AndNowUKnow will keep you posted.
