Martin Brower is expanding its fleet of Volvo VNR Electric vehicles. These additional 10 electric trucks will facilitate food and beverage deliveries to select McDonald’s restaurants in the greater Montreal and Toronto areas. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce McDonald’s carbon footprint in Canada.
“It’s exciting to see a powerhouse brand like McDonald’s working with their partners to help decarbonise the transportation of goods,” said Matthew Blackman, Managing Director for Canada, Volvo Trucks North America. “It’s a testament to the performance and reliability of the Volvo VNR Electric that these global leaders are choosing to scale their trial of battery-electric vehicles where feasible.”
Following an initial two-year trial in Montreal to evaluate the VNR’s capability in handling routine routes and large product loads, McDonald’s Canada and Martin Brower decided to deploy 10 additional Volvo VNR electric vehicles. Seven of these will operate in the greater Toronto area, while the remaining three will be based in the Montreal area.
“After two years with the battery-electric Volvo VNR tractor, we are pleased to expand the fleet serving McDonald’s restaurants. This supports our global commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” explained Hope Bentley, Head of Supply Chain at McDonald’s Canada.
Martin Brower has partnered with McDonald’s since 1956. Both companies have set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with McDonald’s aiming for net-zero emissions globally by 2050 and Martin Brower targeting a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.
To optimise the new electric trucks, Martin Brower collaborated with Vision Truck Group, a Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer. Using the Electric Performance Generator (EPG) tool, the vehicles have been configured based on route specifics such as traffic patterns and environmental conditions. Camions Volvo Montreal will service the trucks based at the Baie d’Urfé distribution centre, while Vision Truck Group will handle those operating in the greater Toronto area.
