Coca-Cola Commits to Purchasing Fleet of Hybrid Trucks

Coca-Cola Enterprises recently committed to purchasing 185 hybrid trucks from Kenworth Trucking Company making it their largest hybrid truck order ever. The order will be filled immediately putting the trucks on the road later this year. This will be Coca-Cola's second order of hybrid trucks after the 120 hybrid beverage trucks that were utilized last year.

Of the order, 150 of the trucks will be Kenworth T370 diesel-electric hybrid tractors and the remaining 35 trucks will be Kenworth T370 hybrid trucks. The 120 trucks purchased last year have been in operation and helped to establish a more than 30% improvement in fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions compared to standard trucks.

The Kenworth T600 truck shown above is similar to the model ordered by Coca-Cola. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org.

The Kenworth T370 features new halogen projector low beam headlamps with 3 times longer life and 30% more light on the road. They also feature a 340 volt battery pack and a PACCAR PX-6 engine that boasts 300 hp at 2,600 RPM and 620 lb-ft. of torque. The hybrid system utilizes an integral transmission-mounted motor/generator. Eaton Corporation worked with Kenworth to develop the hybrid power system which acts as an electric motor using battery pack power. The state of the system can conveniently be tracked through an in-dash monitoring system that changes with driving conditions.

Coca-Cola maintains corporate responsibility by practicing sustainability and employing practices to conserve the environment while maintaining efficient business practices. Constantly progressing in their practices, Coca-Cola has been working with suppliers since 2003 to reduce the fleet's environmental impact and will continue striving for improvement concerning sustainability through this fleet purchase.