2001 Invested in first CNG truck. |
2020 175 CNG trucks used by Manhattan Beer Distributors. |
2030 If a CFS passes, 350+ CNG trucks used by Manhattan Beer Distributors |
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Manhattan Beer Distributors, a full-service beverage company located in the heart of the Bronx, delivers popular beer brands like Corona, Heineken, and Coors to restaurants and bars across New York City and the metropolitan region.
Headquartered in Hunts Point, a neighborhood notorious for some of the worst air pollution levels in the state, Manhattan Beer Distributors has been leading the transition to clean fuel trucks.
In 2001, Manhattan Beer Distributors invested in their first compressed natural gas (CNG) truck with the financial support of NYSERDA, and they’ve since been able to significantly expand their fleet. Now, the distributor operates 175 CNG trucks, about half of their total truck fleet, across their five facilities.
We must incentivize businesses like Manhattan Beer Distributors to invest in a clean energy future. We must pass a clean fuel standard.
The CNG fleet offers improved dependability and operational cost savings, and also contributes to creating a more sustainable community in one of the most polluted communities in the Bronx. The company owns and operates its own CNG pumps, enabling its fleet to refuel quickly and as needed before heading out for more deliveries. In addition to their own fueling system, the nearby Clean Energy natural gas fueling station is available for quick stops to refuel while drivers are out for deliveries.
Clean Energy natural gas fueling station
CNG tanks and pumps at Manhattan Beer Distributors
Drivers have also grown to prefer the CNG trucks, which are outfitted with new safety features and technology. This makes the experience more enjoyable for drivers and reduces turnover for Manhattan Beer Distributors. CNG trucks are also larger and more efficient than the fleet’s diesel-powered trucks
HOW A CLEAN FUEL STANDARD CAN HELP
For Manhattan Beer Distributors, the largest barrier to fully transitioning to CNG trucks is the upfront cost. The New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program makes it possible for Manhattan Beer Distributors to make the initial investments and start to transition their fleet, but a clean fuel standard is needed to fully realize the true potential of CNG truck fleets. A clean fuel standard would transform the fuels market from one that relies almost entirely on petroleum-based fuels, to a diversified one that uses a variety of clean alternatives. Producers of more polluting fuels pay for the development and deployment of clean alternatives, which drive down the cost so businesses like Manhattan Beer Distributors can make the full transition to clean fuels.