Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Distribution

Distribution

Battery-electric technology advances to further electric fleet evolution

By Jeff Cioletti
Electric Island

Scheduled to be operational by spring, Portland, Ore.-based Electric Island is expected to support up to nine vehicle charging stations with charging levels of up to greater than 1 megawatt. (Image courtesy of Daimler Trucks North America)

February 4, 2021

If you read our November 2020 feature previewing the major vehicle manufacturer rollouts planned for this year, you’ll know that electric is not only the future of fleets, but it’s starting to become the present as well. Turns out, in the three short months since the publication of that article, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have had plenty more electric news up their sleeves. Here’s what’s happening.

PACCAR, through its PacLease unit, reports that there’s been heightened interest among fleet customers looking to dip their toes in the green vehicle waters by leasing Kenworth and Peterbilt medium-duty cabover battery-electric trucks.

PacLease offers Class 6 and 7 Kenworth K270E and K370E, as well as the Peterbilt 220EV electric vehicles. Each lease is highly customizable with flexible terms of up to six years.

In December, Anheuser-Busch named BYD (Build Your Dreams) the Sustainable Supplier of the Year at A-B’s Eclipse Sustainability Summit. The brewing giant recognized BYD for its 8TT battery electric trucks. A-B currently operates 25 BYD electric trucks at four of its distribution facilities across California. It’s part of the brewer’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions across its entire supply chain by 25 percent by 2025. Before A-B deployed the 8TT trucks, it put them through rigorous testing on range, acceleration, gradeability, charging speed and other criteria.

The company created the Eclipse Award program as part of an effort to encourage sustainability and collaboration among its suppliers.

Daimler Trucks North America
Click image for larger version
Daimler Trucks North America, in partnership with energy provider Portland General Electric, is developing “Electric Island,” a large, public charging site for medium- and heavy-duty commercial electric vehicles. It is designed to help accelerate the development, testing and deployment of zero-emissions commercial vehicles, the companies say. (Image courtesy of Daimler Trucks North America)

Also in December, Volvo Trucks North America announced the commercial introduction and the beginning of sales for its Class 8 VNR Electric battery-electric vehicle in the U.S. and Canadian markets. The VNR Electric is designed for local and regional distribution ranges, including beverage. It offers 264-kWhy lithium ion batteries, which charge up to 80 percent within 70 minutes and have an operating range of up to 150 miles, depending on the truck’s configuration. Regenerative braking can increase the truck’s range by returning as much as 15 percent of the power back to the battery.

With the official launch of the VNR Electric in North America, Volvo is providing fleet operators with a range of operational solutions. The Volvo Gold Contract includes scheduled and preventive maintenance, towing and vehicle repair — including the lithium ion batteries and complete electromobility system. Last year the VNR Electric model received certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board, enabling it to be sold commercially in all 50 states.

The end of 2020 also saw the announcement that Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is co-developing, with Oregon-based energy provider Portland General Electric (PGE), “Electric Island,” a large, public charging site for medium- and heavy-duty commercial electric vehicles, which, likely will be the first of its kind in the United States, Daimler says. The company says that the structure will help accelerate the development, testing and deployment of zero- emissions commercial vehicles.

Electric Island, which is currently under construction near DTNA’s Portland, Ore., headquarters, is expected to support up to nine vehicle charging stations with charging levels of up to greater than 1 megawatt. It should be operational by spring. Daimler and PGE are finalizing plans for more chargers, on-site energy storage, and solar power generation, as well as product and technology showcase building. The site will be greenhouse-gas emissions-free, including all vehicle charging.

“In cooperation with PGE, and with the plan to expand electric vehicle charging right here in Portland to support not only our [electric vehicle] charging needs, but those of other drivers in the area, we are paving the way to a brighter, cleaner CO2-neutral future,” says Roger Nielsen, president and chief executive officer of DTNA.

KEYWORDS: beverage fleet electric vehicles sustainability

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • top 100 beverage companies

    Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

    For the global beverage market, mergers and acquisitions...
    Beverage News
  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Wine & Spirits
    By: Lauren Sabetta
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

Celsius Fizz Free

CELSIUS launches new Fizz-Free flavors

PepsiCo.jpg

PepsiCo advances AI agenda

Narragansett Beer 1975 cans

Narragansett Beer celebrates 50 years of ‘Jaws’

Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

July 15, 2025

Understanding the Best Material Type for Your Conveyor Systems

Leveraging decades of beverage production expertise, join Regal Rexnord’s Jeremy Fryman, Beverage Industry Marketing Manager and Tom Eure, Senior Account Executive as they dive into the landscape of plastic conveyor belt materials on the market and how to select the proper material type by application.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Freightliner

    2024 Trucks Report: Delivery fleet manufacturers continue to put more of their eggs into the electric basket

    See More
  • Navistar International Corp

    2023 Trucks Report: Electric vehicles continue to make most of the news in the fleet equipment space

    See More
  • Volvo

    Manhattan Beer Distributors adds Class 8 electric trucks to fleet

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • mycotoxins.jpg

    Mycotoxins in Food and Beverages: Innovations and Advances Part I

  • 9781032008370.jpg

    Mycotoxins in Food and Beverages Innovations and Advances, Part II

  • 144433381X.jpg

    Chemistry and Technology of Soft Drinks and Fruit Juices, 3rd Edition

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing