Coles has announced that its first fully electric delivery van will complete up to 240 orders a week in Flagstone, Queensland, from today.
The delivery van, named Sparky by Coles team members, will emit less emissions than petrol powered vehicles and save up to $170 on fuel each week.
According to the retailer, the EV will also be quieter to run compared to other combustion engine vehicles and won’t be required to idle or run the engine when not in motion in order to keep groceries at optimal temperature. This is expected to reduce up to three hours of emissions each day.
The new addition comes as Coles pledges to install electric fridges in 500 of its delivery vans following a successful trial that ran earlier this year. The vans will operate up and down the east coast of Australia.
With Coles Online orders now delivering to 95% of the Australian population seven days per week, the retailer says it’s proud to be offering a more sustainable way for households to receive their groceries.
Coles General Manager of Online Network & Growth James Geddes says the new EV delivery van will support Coles to achieve its target of reducing scope 1 & 2 emissions by more than 75% by 2030.
“We’re proud to introduce our first fully EV to our fleet of Coles Online delivery vans,” he says.
“Making around 40 deliveries to customers each day, the EV is a quieter, more efficient vehicle that produces fewer emissions than a petrol-powered vehicle.”
The initiative is in partnership with Custom Fleet. CEO Chris Tulloch says the company is happy to partner with Coles on this positive sustainability initiative.
“These vans have zero tailpipe emissions and offer a reduction in noise pollution. They also need less maintenance and are more comfortable to drive due to less vibrations,” he says.
Further trials and efforts
In addition to the new electric delivery van, Coles has partnered with Linfox in the trial of an electric-powered truck in the retailer’s supply chain. This is hoped to avoid more than 60 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year.
Coles is also partnering with Toll Group and Nexport to trial the first electric yard tractor in its supply chain. Capable of near 24-hour continuous operation and delivering zero emissions, the yard tractor is currently operating at a Coles’ Distribution Centre in Melbourne.
Coles has introduced 10 online delivery vans equipped with solar-powered electric fridges in parts of Victoria and Queensland, too.