McDonald's Deploys 10 Volvo Electric Trucks for Sustainable Deliveries in Montreal and Toronto

In the coming weeks, McDonald's will deploy ten Volvo VNR Electric trucks for deliveries in Montreal and Toronto. This move, facilitated by logistical partner Martin Brower, continues their joint commitment to sustainability and alternative-fuel vehicle testing.

Martin Brower to Deploy Ten Volvo Electric Trucks for McDonald's Deliveries in Montreal and Toronto

In a recent report by Electrek, 10 brand-new Volvo VNR Electric semi-vehicles will facilitate food and beverage deliveries to specific McDonald's restaurants in greater Montreal and Toronto in the upcoming weeks.

Martin Brower, McDonald's logistical associate, is the entity receiving the ten electric Volvo semi-trucks. As a provider of supply chain solutions for global restaurant chains, Martin Brower has long been committed to sustainability. This commitment is echoed by McDonald's, a collaborator with similar objectives. “Our organizations are united in their dedication to undertaking alternative-fuel vehicle testing,” stated Julie Dell'Aniello, president of Martin Brower Canada.

Martin Brower's deployment of these ten vehicles continues a pilot program in Montreal initiated in 2022 with an electric tractor.

“It’s exciting to see a powerhouse brand like McDonald’s working with their partners to help decarbonize 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.”

Volvo Trucks North America recently unveiled a novel Truck-as-a-Service (TaaS) business model, Volvo on Demand. The model aims to "minimize the upfront investments that are typically associated with the transition to battery-electric vehicles and free up credit lines that can be used to support business growth" for small and medium-sized truck fleets, significantly reducing the financial burden on these businesses.

Since initiating the delivery of electric trucks in 2018, Volvo has made significant strides in expanding its commercial inventory. This expansion now includes dedicated refuse models from its Volvo and Mack Truck brands and the new Mack MD Electric, which was produced earlier this year. This growth is a promising sign for the future of sustainable transportation.

Mack Trucks Expands Roanoke Facility with $14.5M Investment to Boost Medium-Duty and Electric Truck Production

In a February report, Mack Trucks, a leading brand, has been reshaping the medium-duty market by introducing extensive truck functionality and features. The market's enthusiastic response has spurred Mack to ramp up production and plan for further expansion.

Mack Trucks intends to expand its Roanoke, VA, facility by 72,000 square feet of manufacturing space. This expansion will provide substantial capacity for the company's popular Mack MD models and make way for an "emerging medium-duty electric truck line," as Mack refers to it.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the company's $14.5 million investment in the region during an event with state and municipal officials at RVO. The initiative also received a $255,000 grant from the Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund, which Governor Youngkin approved.

Approximately 40% of medium-duty purchasers in the United States are lease and rental fleets, and nearly 75% of all vehicles in the segment have been converted to box trucks with lift gates. The MD model has been successful in segments for which it was not originally designed. Stephen Roy, the global president of Mack Trucks, envisioned alternative uses, and now numerous Mack MDs operate as roll-offs, grapple hooks, dump trucks, tow trucks, transporters, and more.

“Mack is committed to making the industrial and product investments we need to be a North American market leader,” said Roy. “The expansion of the RVO plant will help us grow in a strategic market segment and support our sustainability goals.”

Roanoke County is offering a comprehensive package of incentives totaling $842,420 in support of the Mack facility expansion project. This strategic investment is expected to create 51 new jobs, further boosting the local economy.

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