For the transport of tank beer between the brewery in Den Bosch, stadiums, events and city centers such as Amsterdam, Heineken will use a Volvo FM Electric this year. It is the first electric truck for heavier deployment over longer distances for the brewer in the Netherlands. The transport is provided by logistics service provider and partner of Heineken, Abrex Logistics from Udenhout. They recently signed a letter of intent from Volvo Trucks and dealer BAS Truck Center.
In July last year, Heineken already started using the first two of six smaller electric tanker beer trucks for the Amsterdam city center. Now it is the turn of heavier transport over longer distances.
“Heineken has a strong green ambition and we look at the entire chain. Of course, this also applies to clean transport. I am pleased that we can now transport tank beer, the largest weight of beer that we transport by road, in a sustainable way.”
The Volvo FM Electric will be used for the transport of 200 hectoliters of tank beer between the Heineken brewery in Den Bosch and city centers such as Amsterdam. The truck is charged as much as possible with green electricity generated via the solar panels at the brewery in Den Bosch. In addition to reducing CO2, NOX and soot particles, noise is also significantly reduced because the new electric truck is quiet.
“The fact that we are now taking the first step towards making national transport more sustainable is a great milestone and a prelude to more clean kilometers. We are now honoring our green house color even more than we already did by brewing 100% green Heineken® beer for the Dutch market. With the use of the electric tank beer trucks, we have already reduced CO2 emissions on the entire transport from the brewery in Den Bosch by more than 40%. Now that we are also going to use an electric truck for longer distances, that is a great step towards the future.”
Brew a Better World
Heineken intends to make its entire fleet cleaner and quieter in the coming years. The step to also supply the tank beer with electric transport is part of the Heinekens Brew a Better World approach in which growth and sustainability go hand in hand. Heineken previously announced that it will supply cafes in Utrecht lighter, quieter and cleaner. The beer brewed in Zoeterwoude for export is now sent to the port of Rotterdam by electric container ship. Step by step, Heineken is becoming even greener. In addition to green brewing and transport, Heineken also focuses on recycling packaging[1] and promotional material and the reuse of materials after the closure or renovation of a catering business. The brewer aims to close the material cycles within ten years.
Heineken does innovation together. Just like the electric tank beer truck, this heavier electric truck for the transport of tank beer has also been made possible by Abrex Logistics from Udenhout.
The letter of intent for the Volvo FM Electric was recently signed by Heineken and Abrex Logistics. The official order is expected to be signed this spring, after which the truck can be delivered by Volvo Trucksdealer BAS Truck Center.
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