While quick service restaurants are not part of Food & Drink Business’ remit, we couldn’t resist this bit of good news. McDonald’s Australia and its long-term supply chain partner, Martin Brower Australia have launched its first electric delivery truck.
The truck, with federal climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, in the passenger seat, did its first delivery to McDonald’s Wetherill Park.
It can transport up to 4600 kilograms of McDonald’s products per delivery, travelling from its Wetherill Park distribution centre to restaurants across Sydney.
In any given week, Martin Brower has a fleet of 200 trucks covering more than 150,000 kilometres to deliver over six million kilograms of McDonald’s items, including Aussie produce and ingredients, to more than 1000 restaurants across the country.
McDonald’s is committed to reducing emissions by 50 per cent across its restaurants, offices, and supplier facilities, and logistics – in partnership with Martin Brower – by 2030. It has also set the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
McDonald’s Australia senior director of Supply Chain, Tom Mahony, said, “McDonald’s is committed to working with its suppliers like Martin Brower, to find innovative ways to reduce emissions across its supply chain.”
With zero tailpipe emissions, the truck emits no harmful pollutants during operation, improving air quality, reducing fuel consumption, and reducing noise in local neighbourhoods.
“Adding an electric truck to our fleet of restaurant delivery vehicles will allow us to gain meaningful insights and experience in operating electric vehicles and understand the role they could play in the future.
“This is the first step towards reducing our transport emissions, in partnership with Martin Brower, and continuing to find ways to minimise our environmental impact across our supply chain,” Mahony said.
The new the Volvo FL refrigerated truck has up to 230 kilometres of range and is tailored to the demands of urban Sydney restaurant deliveries.
This is the first Volvo refrigerated electric truck to operate in New South Wales and features a 265kWh energy capacity across four batteries, with its charging station located at the Martin Brower warehouse in Wetherill Park.
Martin Brower MD ANZ, Scott Hanigan, said, “We are excited to take the wheel of our first fully electric truck in Australia. This will enable the local team to better understand the impacts and benefits of an electric fleet, and how we can grow this offering to decarbonise deliveries and achieve our collective emission reduction goals.”
