WASHINGTON, DC – The American Beverage Association (ABA) says its members are finding dramatic fuel savings from a new industry-wide initiative.

The ABA released findings today that show the leading beverage companies in the U.S. will have increased the fuel economy of their fleets by nearly 13 percent since 2010.

The findings are the first to emerge from an innovative new collaboration in which The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group agreed to share proprietary data on their truck fleets with the ABA.

The data shows that the beverage industry has the largest fleet of fuel-efficient heavy-duty hybrid commercial vehicles in North America, and has increased fuel economy (miles per gallon) industry-wide by 3 percent per year since at least 2010. This represents a 12.6 percent increase in fuel efficiency projected through the end of this year.

“America’s beverage industry is committed to sharing new ideas and business practices that will advance the development of technologies to lower its carbon footprint and make for a cleaner, more sustainable world,” said Susan Neely, ABA president and CEO.  “When it comes to environmental sustainability, the beverage industry is united and continuing to lead.”

Cooperation among fleets, she said, will allow the industry to determine the effectiveness of advances in alternative fuels, fuel conservation, hybrid technology, and eco-driving techniques.

Highlights of the initiative to date include:

* Alternative fuels and advanced technologies (hybrid, all-electric, propane, compressed natural gas, and liquefied natural gas) currently power more than 1,700 industry vehicles.

* More than 250 service vehicles have been converted to hybrid power train systems that are 20 percent more fuel efficient.

* Zero-emission, all-electric refrigerated trucks and 150 all-electric vehicles have been added to the fleets.

* Expansion of proven fuel-saving measures such as tire pressure monitoring systems, lighter composite materials, telematics, auto-shift transmissions, improved body aerodynamics, short-route guidance systems.