In the first pilot of its kind on the island of Ireland, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, together with BWG Foods and Dixon International Transport will be turning its delivery route green following the delivery of 3 fully electric Heavy Good Vehicles (e-HGVs). The initiative will reduce carbon emissions by 229 tonnes annually, the equivalent of charging over 25 million smartphones**.
The e-HGVs which have a range of 300km are the best in class in Europe and arrive in Ireland at a time when leading-edge European hauliers are increasingly embracing electrification. The e-HGVs will be recharged using 100% renewable electricity from Dixon International Transport’s new 500kw solar panel array. Each new e-HGVs will deliver up to 24 tonnes of Coca-Cola HBC beverages from its facility in Lisburn, Co. Antrim to BWG’s National Distribution Centre in Dublin. From here BWG Foods will utilise its own electric fleet to complete final delivery of the beverages to its stores across the country.
Starting with three new fully electric Volvo HGVs, this pilot can act as a template for how producers, retailers and hauliers can work together to deliver a more sustainable supply chain. This initiative will also inform how Coca-Cola HBC approaches the distribution of its products in future. The longer ranges now on offer from e-HGVs makes this a new compelling option for fleet operators who are looking to decarbonise.
