Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Brings Hybrids to New Orleans

The Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co. introduced eight new hybrid electric delivery trucks to the streets of New Orleans in 2009. The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership hosted a public forum to highlight the new fleet and the sustainability initiatives of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE). CCE has been a Clean Cities National Clean Fleets Partner since 2011.

"The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership is delighted with CCE's inclusion of fuel-efficient and emissions-reducing hybrid vehicles in its New Orleans delivery fleet," said Rebecca Otte, coordinator of the partnership. "The move demonstrates Coca-Cola Enterprises' on-going commitment to a more sustainable community and serves as a great example of a viable clean transportation option for similar fleets."

The trucks were specifically designed for effectiveness in the stop-and-go traffic common in urban areas. Regenerative braking and lithium-ion battery technologies make these vehicles 30% more fuel efficient than their diesel counterparts. They also create less noise and pollution than standard delivery vehicles. CCE drivers report that the new vehicles handle better than the older, non-hybrid trucks.

The hybrid fleet development was part of CCE's nationwide initiative to employ hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. By 2010, the company has deployed 327 hybrid electric delivery trucks throughout the United States and Canada, making CCE one of the largest commercial hybrid fleet in North America. As of 2017, due to restructuring in Coca-Cola's bottling business, individual bottling companies now operate these vehicles. For example, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, based in Birmingham, Alabama, currently operates 60 hybrid electric delivery trucks in the Birmingham area.