US Foods takes the first delivery of battery-electric trucks.
US Foods Holding Corp. is a major foodservice distributor in the United States. It announced Monday that it took delivery of its first Freightliner Cascadia trucks powered by battery-electric technology at its distribution center in La Mirada. Following the announcement, the company will add 30 additional electric trucks to its fleet at the same location in 2023.
This is part of US Foods’ effort to reduce the carbon footprint of their growing fleet. It will also help them meet their near-term emission reduction goals. Recently, the Science Based Targets initiative approved the company’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target.
US Foods has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions in the United States by 32.5 percent between a 2019 baseline and 2032. Additionally, 67 percent of its suppliers will have science-based targets for emissions reduction by 2027.
New zero-emission battery electric trucks will reduce harmful fine particulate matter and oxides nitrogen (NOx)emissions in Southern California. The Class 8 Freightliner Cascadia single-eAxle battery-electric truck can produce up to 395 horsepower (296 kilowatts) with an estimated range of 230 mi. For maximum torque and quick acceleration, the vehicles are equipped with a Detroit ePowertrain.
Dan Bennett, US Foods’ vice-president of fleet and sustainability, stated that “our ongoing investment in alternative fuel cars is a testament to our commitment to reducing our fleet’s environmental footprint.” As we work to improve the sustainability of our operations, this milestone is very significant.
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The company will deploy electric trucks and also reduce GHG emissions through optimizing routing to reduce mileage driven, investing in new technology and compressed natural gas, renewable gas, and diesel fuel. To power its electric vehicles, the company plans to build charging infrastructure at La Mirada distribution center.
NextEra Energy Resources will provide charging installation services and Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Transport Program the electrical supply infrastructure.
US Foods was able to achieve this important milestone thanks to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and EPA’s Targeted Airshed Grant Program. Also, the California Air Resources Board’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Bus and Truck Voucher Incentive Program provided support.
Additional support was also provided by the California Energy Commission’s EnergIZE Commercial Vehicles Project, Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Transport Program, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC., Doggett Freightliner.
David Carson, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at DTNA expressed pride in helping to achieve US Foods’ strong sustainability goals by adding the Freightliner CAscadia to their fleet. He stated, “Together industry leaders such as our two companies will continue shaping a brighter and cleaner future.”
