Grocery distributor US Foods utilizing first eCascadia EV truck at Distribution Center
US Foods Holding has received its first battery-electric powered Freightliner eCascadia trucks at its distribution center in La Mirada, California.
According to the company, the move is part of its plan to add 30 electric trucks to its La Mirada fleet in 2023 and reflects its commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its growing fleet.
The electric trucks will also support the firm’s near-term science-based emissions reduction target recently approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, the foodservice distributor adds.
By 2023, the company aims to reduce absolute Scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32.5 percent from a 2019 base year, with 67 percent of its suppliers by emissions covering purchased goods and services expected to have science-based targets by 2027.
The deployment of battery-electric trucks is also expected to help reduce harmful emissions throughout Southern California, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and oxides of nitrogen.
The Class 8 Freightliner eCascadia single eAxle truck can provide up to 395 horsepower (296 kW) with an expected range of 230 miles. The trucks are also equipped with a Detroit ePowertrain, as well as new safety and connectivity features from Detroit Assurance and Detroit Connect.
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US Foods received support from EPA’s Targeted Airshed Grant Program, South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, California Energy Commission’s EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles Project, NextEra Energy Resources, Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Transport Program, and Doggett Freightliner.
Apart from deploying electric trucks, the company says it will continue to cut GHG emissions by deploying new vehicle technology, optimizing routing to reduce miles driven, and investing in alternative fuels such as renewable natural gas, compressed natural gas and renewable diesel fuel.
US Foods also plans to build charging infrastructure at its La Mirada distribution center, with charging installation services provided by NextEra Energy Resources and electrical supply infrastructure offered by Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Transport Program.
US Foods is a Rosemont, Illinois-based foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 300,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed.
