BRAMPTON, ON — Loblaw Companies Limited has rolled out its first heavy-duty fully electric transport truck.
The vehicle is a battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia manufactured by Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) – the first series production eCascadia handed over to a customer in Canada, and one of five Loblaw expects to put into service in the months ahead.
The first electric truck will make daily runs between Loblaw’s distribution centre in Boucherville, Quebec, and Loblaw stores in the Greater Montreal Area, including Provigo, Provigo Le Marche, and Maxi. The trucks will get up to 370 kilometres per charge while hauling up to 82,000 pounds of gradually diminishing gross weight, and will return to the Boucherville distribution centre’s new charging station to recharge daily.
“It’s no secret that vehicle decarbonization is central to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and we want to lead in the adoption of this new technology,” said Brian Springer, VP, national transport operations at Loblaw. “For nearly two years, we’ve piloted different vehicles across various parts of our business, and we’re excited to roll-out a solution that works.”
Freightliner’s battery electric eCascadia is suited for short-haul routes that allow for depot-based charging. Extensive development and testing through several prototypes and customer-tested trucks resulted in a powerful and efficient electric truck with multiple battery and drive axle options, providing a typical range of up to 370 kilometres depending on vehicle configurations.
A maximum battery capacity of almost 440 kWh can recharge 80 per cent of the truck in approximately 90 minutes. To increase safety, especially in urban environments, the 82,000lbs (GCW) Class 8 truck comes standard with Detroit Assurance with Active Brake Assist 5 and debuts the Active Side Guard Assist (ASGA). This technology that engages at urban speeds (20km/h or less) to mitigate the truck from making a right turn when a moving cyclist or pedestrian is detected on the passenger side of the truck.