WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Beverage Association today released findings from a new industry-wide initiative that shows the nation’s leading beverage companies will have increased the fuel economy of their fleets by nearly 13 percent since 2010.

The findings are the first to emerge from an innovative new collaboration in which The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Snapple Group agreed to share proprietary data on their truck fleets with the ABA. The ABA aggregates the information to determine how well the industry is doing on fuel consumption and fuel efficiency.

The data shows that the beverage industry has the largest fleet of fuel-efficient heavy-duty hybrid commercial vehicles in North America, and has increased fuel economy (miles per gallon) industry-wide by 3 percent per year since at least 2010. This represents a 12.6 percent increase in fuel efficiency projected through the end of this year.

“America’s beverage industry is committed to sharing new ideas and business practices that will advance the development of technologies to lower its carbon footprint and make for a cleaner, more sustainable world,” said Susan Neely, ABA president and CEO.  “When it comes to environmental sustainability, the beverage industry is united and continuing to lead.”

The beverage industry is driving innovations in fleet efficiency, and this unique collaboration will better allow the industry to determine the effectiveness of advances in alternative fuels, fuel conservation, hybrid technology and eco-driving techniques. Among the progress to date:

Alternative fuels and advanced technologies (hybrid, all-electric, propane, compressed natural gas, and liquefiednatural gas) currently power more than 1,700 industry vehicles. More than 250 service vehicles have been converted to hybrid power train systems that are 20 percent more fuel efficient. Zero-emission, all-electric refrigerated trucks and 150 all-electric vehicles have been added to the fleets. Expansion of proven fuel-saving measures such as tire pressure monitoring systems, lighter composite materials, telematics, auto-shift transmissions, improved body aerodynamics, short-route guidance systems.

The beverage industry will continue to innovate and work with others to make its fleet more fuel efficient. Among the initiatives that individual companies are involved in advancing:

Partnering with XL Hybrids of Boston to grow the number of industry light-duty service vans fitted with the firm’s innovative hybrid engine conversion technology. Engaging with the National Clean Fleets Partnership Program, public/private initiative between the U.S. Department of Energy and large companies to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient and alternative fuels nationwide. Participating in the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a public/private collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the freight transportation industry that helps shippers, carriers and logistics companies improve fuel efficiency and save on fuel costs. Collaborating with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), a non-profit group focusing on environmentally sustainable business practices, to develop a software tool that will allow beverage industry fleet managers to identify lower-carbon fuels.

“BSR applauds the ABA’s efforts to increase reporting and transparency on fleet sustainability and thereby promote greater industry-level collaboration to increase fuel efficiency,” said Eric Olson, BSR senior vice president, advisory services.

For additional background on the research, please see the attached one-pager. 

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The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.  For more information on ABA, please visit the association’s Web site at www.ameribev.org or call the ABA communications team at (202) 463-6770.