Duane Reade in green transportation initiative

New York -- In an effort to reduce vehicle air pollution, Duane Reade, in partnership with Mission Electric, is asking New Yorkers to help determine which of the chain’s stores should be served solely by electric trucks. Combined, more than 30 stores have been identified as electric truck ready in the city’s boroughs of Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.



New Yorkers can vote for the locations they feel should receive 100% electric delivery via an interactive map (nyc.missionelectric.org) launched by Mission Electric, a non-profit and city government social engagement campaign focused on enhancing electric vehicle transportation. Based on the voting results, the two leading stores will be going electric, with five more pre-selected stores to follow in later months.



To reduce the impact of air pollution originating from vehicle deliveries, Duane Reade has purchased 14 new Smith Electric trucks that will replace almost 25% of the company's truck fleet. The partnership with Mission Electric will reduce Duane Reade's total green house gas impact by about 20%, which is the equivalent of removing over 1,000 vehicles' tailpipe emissions from New York's streets. Because the new trucks do not require combustion, their operation is almost silent, reducing noise levels from overnight deliveries.



“Partnering with Mission Electric is an important component of our effort to be green,” said Michael Fowles, fleet manager of Duane Reade, which is a division of Walgreens. “This exciting project is an excellent way for us to get our stores and our customers involved in the process of a cleaner future. It fosters true engagement around common urban challenges of air pollution, noise, and congestion.”