Supermarket giant Coles is going green with its first electric delivery van now on the roads.
Nicknamed “Sparky”, the EV van will complete up to 240 orders a week in Flagstone, south of Brisbane.
Coles estimates the van will save up to $170 on fuel each week, emit less emissions than its petrol-powered cousins and be quieter.
The retail giant also said the van would not have to “idle”, or run the engine when not in motion, in order to keep groceries at their optimal temperature.
Coles is also looking to install electric fridges in 500 of its delivery vans following a trial earlier this year.
“The vans will operate up and down the east coast of Australia and will emit fewer emissions and reduce running costs,” the company said.
Coles general manager of online network growth James Geddes said Sparky would support the group’s ambition to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 75 per cent by 2030.
“We are proud to introduce our first fully electric vehicle to our fleet of Coles Online delivery vans,” he said.
“Making around 40 deliveries to customers each day, the EV is a quieter, more efficient vehicle that produces fewer emissions than a petrol-powered vehicle.”
Coles has also partnered with Linfox to trial an electric-powered truck and with Toll Group and Nexport to trial an electric yard tractor in its supply chain.