Coke, bottlers growing hybrid fleets
Coca-Cola and its bottlers are increasing the number of hybrid vehicles they use in their sales and delivery fleets. By the end of this year, Coke's sales fleet of 800 vehicles will contain 550 hybrids (as of now, it has 325), and by the end of next year the entire fleet should be hybridized. The Atlanta-based soft drink giant's green fleet includes the Toyota Prius, Camry Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid along with the Ford Escape Hybrid. Similarly, both Coca-Cola Enterprises and Coca-Cola Consolidated, the company's #1 and #2 bottlers respectively, are following suit with plans to add more hybrid cars and SUVs through next year. Coca-Cola Enterprises also operates 120 diesel-electric hybrid trucks in its larger 20,000-vehicle delivery fleet. According to a representative quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, fuel prices are a huge concern for Coke, and the hybrids are less costly to operate. The biggest impact is likely to be made as Coke's bottlers leverage hybrid trucks for deliveries. Coca-Cola Enterprises' pilot fleet showed that the hybrid trucks' emissions and fuel consumption are a third lower than their traditionally-powered counterparts. With fuel prices on a steady climb, that kind of savings gets the attention of the decision-makers in the boardroom. [Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Niralisherni 9:17AM (5/06/2008)
Coke is already using 30 ZAP trucks for its beverage distribution system in Montevideo, Uruguay. Coke is keen to go green
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Tim 9:21AM (5/06/2008)
What, no giant $40K GM hybrid SUVs?
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Taser 10:25AM (5/06/2008)
And Tim still doesn't own any hybrid.
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Kevin Nugent 6:23PM (5/06/2008)
Good move on their part . Atleast we green thinkers can prove that hybird can work in heavy duty applications.
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Lithous 11:05AM (5/07/2008)
"What, no giant $40K GM hybrid SUVs?"
No Tim by why not ask a similar question... What, no $115K Toyota (Lexus) hybrid?
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/02/26/in-the-autobloggreen-garage-2008-lexus-ls600h-l-yeah-its-a-hy/
But Tim, before you and your dumb ace clones think that $40K is so much for GM's hybrid technology here is a quote from the URL I just showed you:
"The latest iteration of Hybrid Synergy Drive uses two liquid-cooled motor/generators integrated into the planetary gear electronically variable transmission, much like the GM Two-Mode. However, unlike the GM system, only one of the motors can provide drive torque."
IN OTHER WORDS, the $115K Lexus has a watered down version of the GM hybrid system. So let's see. The king of hybrids which supposedly makes so much profit off of hybrids sells a hybrid technology that isn't as technologically advanced as GM's and to boot the entry price is over $100K. It only goes to show what a deal the GM two mode system is for $40K - $50 entry price and soon it will be in the less costly VUE.
Hybrid systems are not all the same. Some technologies cost more than others and Toyota is proving it with its less great (than GM's) hybrid system with an entry point of over $100K.
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