PosiCharge, Toyota Team Unveil Environmentally Friendly Distribution Center

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.– WhiteWave Foods unveiled an updated, environmentally friendly distribution center that now features increased productivity and reduced energy solutions from AeroVironment’s alliance with Toyota Material Handling.

AV and TMHU formed the alliance last year to offer PosiCharge product solutions to reduce energy consumption and operating costs for their material handling customers.

WhiteWave Foods enlisted Toyota Material Handling and AeroVironment to eliminate the time and space consuming conventional battery changing equipment that had been occupying 1,500-square-feet in its facility. The distribution center now operates new state-of-the-art electric Toyota lift trucks supported by AV’s fast charging technology.

“By combining the leading AC motor technology with the leading fast charge technology, WhiteWave Foods now has a streamlined, efficient and more sustainable operation,” said Mike Bissonette, senior vice president and general manager of AV Efficient Energy Systems, and Brett Wood, president of ToyotaMaterial Handling, said in a joint statement. “Today’s environmental concerns, along with initiatives to improve efficiency and increase productivity, make the alliance between Toyota and AV the perfect fit for companies like WhiteWave Foods.”

The distribution center features 28 Toyota lift trucks and 25 PosiCharge fast chargers that have streamlined operations and eliminated the need for more than 28 conventional batteries formerly used for battery changing. PosiCharge systems are completely automated, hands-free fast chargers that require minimal training for electric industrial vehicle drivers. There are no settings to learn and no buttons to push, so training can be accomplished in minutes.