Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and Maritime Transport have reached a significant milestone in decarbonising GB road freight, with the first fully electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) now operating across the supplier’s GB logistics network.
The two companies worked collaboratively to optimise deliveries and routes, providing the proof of concept that eHGVs can transport soft drink payloads.
The deployment marks a new phase in the partnership between the two companies and, for the first time, integrates electric road transport into CCEP’s GB domestic supply chain as part of its wider ambition to reduce value chain emissions through its sustainability action plan.
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 operates on dedicated delivery routes from CCEP’s manufacturing site in Wakefield – Europe’s largest soft drinks plant by volume.
Running five days a week, the vehicle completes multi-drop deliveries, supplying soft drinks to convenience and wholesale customers. Its performance is being closely monitored as both businesses assess how electric vehicles can be applied more widely across CCEP’s network.
For CCEP, initiatives of this kind are central to its This is Forward action plan, which sits at the heart of its long-term business strategy. The business is focused on transitioning to electric and ultra-low emission vehicles, it said, optimising transport routes and working closely with logistics partners to drive down emissions.
Maritime and CCEP are now exploring opportunities to expand the use of eHGVs, including the potential deployment of additional vehicles in the South as Maritime’s charging infrastructure develops and as the initial deployment is evaluated.
Nick Hayward, logistics director at CCEP, said: “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.”
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