Toronto 
Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest retailer and private sector employer, has marked a key accomplishment in its journey toward net-zero carbon emissions by deploying its first fully electric heavy-duty transport truck.
Credit Yvette Cakpo (CNW Group/Loblaw Companies Limited)
Manufactured by Daimler Truck North America (Portland, Oregon), the battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia is the first of its kind to be delivered to a Canadian customer, with four more trucks expected to join Loblaw’s fleet in the coming months.
The electric truck will transport goods daily between Loblaw’s distribution center in Boucherville, Quebec, and its stores in the Greater Montreal Area, including Provigo, Provigo Le Marché, and Maxi.
Per the news release, Freightliner’s eCascadia is designed for short-haul routes, allowing for depot-based charging. Rigorous testing and development have yielded a powerful, efficient electric truck with several battery and drive axle options.
The eCascadia can cover up to 370 kilometers per charge, carrying a maximum load of 82,000 pounds. The truck can recharge 80% of its 440 kWh battery capacity in about 90 minutes. To enhance safety, particularly in urban settings, the 82,000 lbs Class 8 truck is equipped with Detroit Assurance with Active Brake Assist 5 and features the debut of Active Side Guard Assist (ASGA), an industry-first technology that helps prevent collisions with cyclists and pedestrians at urban speeds.
The vehicle will recharge daily at the distribution center’s new charging station.
By 2030, Loblaws aims to decarbonize its fleet of over 160 company-owned day-cab trucks.
