Retailer set to test efficient trucks

WalMart Stores Inc., seeking to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions in its trucking fleet, said Monday that it would test two new hybrids and two alternative-fuel trucks this year, including trucks that use reclaimed cooking grease from its stores.


The company said it already has met its short-term goal of improving fuel efficiency in the fleet by 25 percent from 2005 to 2008. The longer-term goal is to double fuel efficiency by 2015 over the 2005 baseline.


WalMart's announcement came as bio diesel supporters opened the National Bio diesel Conference and Expo in San Francisco with a "Scientists for Bio diesel" declaration. Leaders of the organization wanted to make it clear that the push for bio-based fuels is about moving toward sustainable, renewable fuel sources, said Jessica Robinson, spokesman for the National Bio diesel Board based in Jefferson City, Mo.


The board says carbon dioxide emissions from bio diesel are 78 percent lower than those from petroleum diesel.


WalMart said 15 trucks at its Buckeye, Ariz., distribution facility will use reclaimed "brown" cooking grease - stuff that's caught in grease traps during cleaning. The rest of the trucks at the center will use a blend of diesel that incorporates "yellow" grease, the leftovers from French fries and other fried foods.


At a distribution center in Southern California, WalMart said four Peterbilt Model 386 trucks and one other vehicle will run on liquid natural gas.


Five others of the same model will use diesel-electric hybrid systems from Eaton Corp. and PACCAR Inc., a global technology company based in Bellevue, Wash.


Those trucks will be deployed in Dallas, Houston, Apple Valley, Calif., Atlanta, Washington and Baltimore.


And a diesel-electric hybrid developed for WalMart by Arvin Meritor Inc. of Troy, Mich., to be deployed in the Detroit area, is believed to be the first for a Class 8 (heavy) truck.


"We look forward to determining if these technologies will help reduce our environmental footprint, are viable for our business and provide a return on investment," Chris Sutlemeier, WalMart's senior vice president of transportation, said in a news release.