Published: August 04, 2011
Fresh & Easy Introduces Natural Gas Vehicles to Fleet
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Fresh
& Easy Neighborhood Market today announced the addition of 25
compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its distribution fleet as part
of a partnership with Ryder System, Inc. Fresh
& Easy's new natural gas vehicles produce 20 to 30 percent less
emissions than comparable diesel vehicles and are part of the company's
efforts to reduce emissions. The vehicles were made available through a
$38.7 million Ryder/San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG)
project that is part of a joint public/private partnership between the
U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, the
Southern California Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition,
and Ryder.
"We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment. By
incorporating natural gas vehicles into our fleet, we are helping to
reduce emissions even further," said Fresh & Easy CEO Tim Mason. "When
we can reduce our operating costs through more efficient transportation
technologies like natural gas, we can pass those savings on to our
customers."
Fresh & Easy already has introduced trailers that include a hybrid
refrigeration vector unit which minimizes the amount of fuel used to
safely cool and transport store products. Trailers also include an
automatic refrigeration shut-off when optimum temperature is reached
inside the cooling chamber, as well as a complete engine shut-off once
parked at the stores. At the distribution center, Fresh & Easy has
utilized plug-in electrical stand-by technology so no fuel is used to
run refrigeration units on parked trailers.
"We're happy we can offer innovative and efficient trucks that enable
Fresh & Easy to not only lower transportation costs and increase
efficiencies, but also have clear and measurable benefits for reduced
emissions," stated John Sonia, Ryder's senior vice president of
operations for Dedicated Contract Carriage solutions. "Today's complex
supply chains require unwavering operational excellence, and this new
vehicle technology allows Fresh & Easy to transition their fleets and
maintain this excellence, with the added environmental benefits of
natural gas."
On average, Fresh & Easy stores use 30 percent less energy than a
typical supermarket, which helps customers save money - and also helps
the environment. Fresh & Easy is a pilot member of the LEED Volume
Certification Program, demonstrating its commitment to build sustainable
buildings, and also has the most currently certified GreenChill stores
in the nation. At its distribution center, Fresh & Easy invested $13
million in a 500,000 square foot solar roof installation - one of the
largest in California - which produces 20 percent of the energy for the
entire facility.
For more information about Fresh & Easy, visit www.freshandeasy.com.
Also follow the company on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/freshandeasy
and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freshandeasy.
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market
Brendan Wonnacott, 310-341-1356
brendan.wonnacott@freshandeasy.com
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