Meijer, a Michigan-based retailer with 499 shops in six Midwestern states, operates a fleet of 250 semitrucks. The corporate has deployed two Freightliner eCascadia electrical semitrucks, and is monitoring their efficiency in a cold-weather surroundings as a part of a DOE-funded venture.

The 2 semis will function out of the retailer’s Lansing Distribution Heart, which is provided with customized charging infrastructure. They’ll make a number of deliveries every day to Meijer supercenters inside a 200-mile vary of the depot.

Meijer celebrated the arrival of its new e-trucks by delivering a donation of 44,000 kilos of meals to Gleaners Neighborhood Meals Financial institution in Detroit. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Daimler execs have been readily available for the supply ceremony.

“We applaud Meijer’s efforts to enhance our planet whereas offering 1000’s of kilos of nutritious meals for households which can be struggling proper now,” mentioned Gleaners CEO Gerry Brisson.

Meijer turned a check fleet for Freightliner in 2009, and was chosen to check the producer’s battery electrical semitrucks in 2019. Meijer’s vans have been partially funded by a grant to Daimler from the DOE’s Automobile Applied sciences Workplace geared towards the demonstration of economic electrical vans underneath various local weather circumstances. Meijer will monitor the temperature affect on mileage, cost occasions, battery life optimization and driver consolation every day.

Freightliner’s new battery electrical eCascadia is suited to short-haul routes that enable for depot-based charging. With a most battery capability of 440 kWh, the eCascadia can recharge to 80 % of capability in roughly 90 minutes.

“By way of this partnership, we might help speed up the trade’s transformation to electrification by making use of precious insights from information collected and real-world purposes in a chilly local weather surroundings,” mentioned Mike Graham, Senior VP of Provide Chain and Manufacturing at Meijer. “We’re happy to work with Freightliner to additional put the eCascadia tractors into real-world purposes outdoors of southern California.”

Supply: Meijer by way of Transport Dive