11.28.2007 - 12:54pm ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK - November 28, 2007 – John F. Brock, president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE), today joined Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to announce that the company is undertaking energy saving measures in New York, including introducing the five hybrid-electric trucks to their distribution center in the Bronx. Currently, the Bronx sales center has 90 trucks servicing 8,700 customers in Manhattan and the Bronx, delivering more than 8 million cases of product annually. The hybrid-electric trucks use 32 percent less fuel than standard trucks and use technology to eliminate emissions when they're idling or in traffic.

"Sustainable business practices will save businesses money in the long run. That's why we're seeing support for converting the taxi fleet to hybrids, major rental companies like Hertz converting their fleets, and it’s why a leader in product distribution like Coca-Cola Enterprises has made this commitment," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Although CCE is a global company, there are important local implications to this decision. Coca-Cola Enterprises runs trucks though our five boroughs on their distribution routes, and by converting their fleet here, they're contributing to better air quality in the communities they serve locally - like the South Bronx."

"Coca-Cola Enterprises has long been responsive to the needs of our local communities, and the expansion of our hybrid-electric fleet in the Bronx demonstrates our commitment to Mayor Bloomberg's call for local industries to be proactive in the search for alternative fuel sources," said Brock. "CCE will continue to explore ways to help our customers and communities through our corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts. These efforts, coupled with other energy saving measures here in the Bronx and elsewhere, are not only a commitment to the environment, but they’re good business practice."

CCE conducted an intensive research and design program with their supplier to develop, test and produce hybrid-electric trucks for their NY fleet. Currently, CCE has two trucks in the Bronx facility, with three additional trucks scheduled for deployment in December. The five Bronx trucks represent the largest CCE hybrid-electric fleet of any city in the U.S.
The International 4300 truck, with Eaton Hybrid Technology, meets New York City weight restrictions for use in town and on bridges. Over the next year, an additional 120 side load hybrid-electric trucks will join the CCE fleet across the country. A motor/generator, working with the transmission and a 340-volt battery, allows the truck to source electrical power instead of gas when traveling at speeds below 30 MPH, eliminating emissions in slow traffic.

CCE employs more than 3,500 people in the metro-NYC area, 434 at their Bronx facility, where recently, they began the installation of an energy efficient lighting system. The upgrade at the 264,025 sq. ft. facility is about 90 percent complete.

In May, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the City's yellow-taxi fleet would be required to meet stringent emission standards that currently are only reachable by converting to hybrid taxis. In June, Mayor Bloomberg joined officials from Hertz Rental Cars to announce that they would convert a major portion of their New York based fleet to hybrid.

Coca-Cola Enterprises is the world’s largest marketer, distributor, and producer of bottled and canned liquid nonalcoholic refreshment. CCE sells approximately 80% of The Coca-Cola Company's North American volume, and is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Monaco.

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