GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Meijer, a family-operated retailer with 499 locations across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin, announced the deployment of two all-electric semitrucks in its distribution system.

The retailer's trucks were partially funded by a grant given to Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) from the US Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office. The grant funded demonstration of battery electric commercial trucks under diverse climate conditions.

Meijer said it is the first retailer nationwide to test the Freightliner eCascadia semitrucks in a cold weather environment.

After receiving the battery electric semitrucks earlier in December, Meijer celebrated an inaugural delivery on Dec. 15 with an over-44,000-lb food donation to Gleaners Community Food Bank. The donation included 44,136 lbs of nonperishable food, including peanut butter, canned vegetables, fruit and meat that Gleaners representatives said would be delivered to their clients this holiday season.

Representatives from Meijer, DTNA and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer were present at the ceremony.

"As one of the first in the nation to deploy all electric semitrucks, Meijer is doing their part to preserve our pure Michigan natural resources while creating good-paying manufacturing jobs and setting a powerful example for companies everywhere,” Whitmer said. “I look forward to building on our partnership with Meijer to grow Michigan's economy and build a state where everyone can envision their future."

Operating out of Meijer’s Lansing Distribution Center in Michigan, the electric trucks will make multiple deliveries a day to Meijer supercenters within a 200-mile trip range of the distribution center.

Freightliner's new battery electric eCascadia truck is the zero-emission version of the industry-leading Cascadia and is ideally suited for short-haul routes that allow for depot-based charging. With a typical trip range of 230 miles and a maximum battery capacity of nearly 440 kWh, in 90 minutes the trucks can recharge 80%.

"Our company's earliest beginnings were marked by doing what's right while keeping an eye toward innovation," said Rick Keyes, president and chief executive officer at Meijer. "That philosophy still guides us today and is exemplified by our company's commitment to lessening our carbon footprint. We're excited to continue our longstanding partnership with Freightliner to pave a sustainable future for the industry."