Loblaw Companies Limited recently introduced Daimler Trucks North America’s battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia to routes in British Columbia, Canada, as part of its mission to transition its corporately owned truck fleet to electric vehicles.

The company first trialed the eCascadia in early 2020 as part of Freightliner’s Customer Experience (CX) fleet. Now, Loblaw has placed an initial order for five vehicles to be delivered in 2022 and 2023, the company said.

Loblaw will continue to utilize the CX fleet eCascadia for the next three months in and around the South Surrey, B.C. area. Typical routes the eCascadia runs include distances between 160 to 250 kilometers (99 to 155 miles), primarily hauling grocery and other retail products from the company’s distribution center to stores. Data generated from the daily operations will help inform the continual development of electric vehicles.

“With approximately 10,000 deliveries to and from our stores each week, we understand the impact our fleet has on the environment,” said Brian Springer, vice president of transport operations for Loblaw. “We know that through our own actions, we can play a critical role in helping Canada reach its carbon reduction targets.

“Over the past few years, we have worked closely with our partners to reach our goal of fully electrifying our corporate fleet by 2030. Our partnership with the Daimler Trucks North America’s eMobility group is an important piece in that overall commitment."

In January 2020, Loblaw participated in a demonstration of the eCascadia, loaded to 80,000 pounds of gross weight. Overall impressions were positive, and leadership saw immediate potential for electric vehicle usage in operations, the company said. One in five Loblaw trips run about 150 km from a distribution center, which fits within the production eCascadia’s planned 400-kilometer (249-mile) range capability.

“As always, collaboration with our customers is critical to understanding how commercial battery electric trucks will be part of a long-term solution in CO2-neutral transportation,” said David Carson, senior vice president of sales and marketing at DTNA. “We are excited for Loblaw’s trial and for feedback that aids in the purposeful innovation of our electric vehicles.”