CHICAGO (January 15, 2013 - PR Newswire)—Testa Produce has added two new trucks to its delivery fleet, both of which operate solely on electricity. Custom-made for Testa by Smith Electric Vehicles, Kansas City, Mo., (chassis) and Kidron, Washington, N.C. (insulated body), the trucks have zero emissions and travel up to 100 miles without recharging. Testa plans to use them for deliveries to customers in its downtown Chicago market.
Testa's existing 60+ delivery trucks run on bio-diesel fuel and all company cars are hybrids. In the coming months, Testa Produce will also add 10 trucks to its fleet that operate on compressed natural gas, an alternative fuel that's safer and more eco-friendly than traditional fossil fuels.
"The new electric trucks will help us diversify our fleet, give us added flexibility and reduce our carbon footprint even more," says Stephanie Testa, distribution manager. "We're excited to get them on the road."
Peter Testa, president, adds that finding innovative eco-friendly solutions in every aspect of the business is an ongoing company goal. "Distribution is an energy- and resource-intensive business but we've made it our mission to do things differently and to set a new standard for our industry. Electric vehicle technology has advanced to the point where it's now possible for us to begin making zero-emission deliveries to our Chicago customers. It's a logical next step for us."
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.