Coca-Cola orders 120 new hybrid trucks

Drinks giant's green fleet order is largest yet for hybrid engine manufacturer Eaton

US engineering conglomerate Eaton Corp is set to provide Coca-Cola with 120 new hybrid trucks by the end of this year after announcing its largest hybrid deal to date.

Tests conducted by Coca-Cola found the company's hybrid trucks cut emissions by approximately 30 per cent and fuel consumption by nearly 40 per cent compared to the conventional trucks in its fleet. The drinks giant has also reported lower maintenance costs on the new hybrid models.

Driver acceptance of the new greener trucks has been favourable, said Dave Leasure, director of fleet procurement for Coca-Cola. "The hybrid units have been performing very well in communicating with the electronic engines, always giving us the necessary torque and horsepower when it is needed," he said.

Eaton's hybrid drivetrain system recovers energy usually lost through braking and stores it in batteries. When electric and engine torque are blended, the stored power is used to advance fuel economy or to drive the truck using electric power only at low speeds.

Eaton said the hybrid system could also be used to power electrical devices in the vehicle even when the engine is off, cutting the need to run the engine when the trucks are stationary.