Iveco has delivered a Eurocargo diesel-electric parallel hybrid urban distribution vehicle to Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) at the European Business Summit in Brussels. It marks the first such vehicle to be operational in an urban environment in Europe.
The new prototype low-carbon vehicle was handed over to Hubert Patricot, President, Coca-Cola Enterprises Europe, by Franco Miniero, Iveco's Senior Vice- President Sales & Marketing.
CCE has partnered with Iveco for this pilot project to test the feasibility of hybrid technology for commercial trucks. It will use the vehicle to deliver Coca-Cola products in Brussels until the end of July, with this innovation making measurable and real progress on the journey towards sustainable growth, including seeking reductions in transport emissions.
Franco Miniero said: "Iveco, like the whole Fiat Group, makes huge investments for environmental and social sustainability and our company believes it is a leader in this field. Innovation is the key to finding new sustainable transport solutions and for generating wealth for our stakeholders in a responsible manner.
"For Iveco, innovation does not mean concept or futuristic vehicles but affordable technological solutions available in the immediate future, allowing vehicle operators to optimise their environmental footprint, which is a benefit to us all. We started several years ago to introduce hybrid vehicles into the market, especially urban buses and now with our medium range product, Eurocargo, we begin field trials with a diesel-electric hybrid power train in this product range. Our partnership with CCE is very important to us and it is an example of advanced and affordable innovation to achieve noteworthy fuel consumption and CO2 emission savings of up to 30 per cent."
Hubert Patricot added: "CCE has long been committed to sustainability and the company has set a goal to combine growth with an absolute reduction in CO2 emissions. This pilot study with the Iveco hybrid truck will therefore guide us in developing a sustainable transport strategy across our European business."
"We have been driving efficiencies within Coca-Cola for decades. Now we are exploring ways of dramatically reducing our environmental impact whilst delivering exceptional levels of customer service. Projects such as this pilot put CCE at the forefront of innovation as we develop partnerships with suppliers and customers to drive sustainable growth."
The hybrid truck will follow a specific delivery route for four months, which is approximately 20 km long and serves different customers in the busy centre of Brussels.
The new hybrid Eurocargo makes it possible to operate on an urban distribution and collection round without sacrificing high-speed performance on motorways, with a fuel saving of up to 30 per cent compared to conventional diesel engined vehicles. The 16-valve, 4-cylinder tector Euro 5 diesel engine benefits from a maximum power of 160hp and works in combination with a 60 hp electric motor- generator, a six-speed automated gearbox and a lithium ion battery pack with a 1.9 kWh capacity.
The vehicle is able to start from a standstill in electric mode only, with the diesel engine starting automatically to meet the driver's performance requirement. It also features a stop & start function and regenerative braking, with a payload only 200 kg less than conventional diesel engined models. A further innovation in this vehicle is the automatic engagement of the engine brake during deceleration, in advance of the application of the foundation brake.
The results of the test vehicle will be used in determining the long-term sustainable transport strategy of CCE in Europe.
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