Duane Reade To Partner With Mission Electric On Green Transportation Initiative

NEW YORK, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to reduce vehicle air pollution, Duane Reade, in partnership with Mission Electric, is turning to New Yorkers to determine which of its stores should be served solely by electric trucks. New Yorkers can vote for 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 campaign results, the two leading stores will be going electric, with five more pre-selected stores to follow in later months. Participants in the campaign will be entered in a contest to win Duane Reade "green" gift baskets and gift cards. Combined, more than 30 stores have been identified as electric truck ready in the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

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 percent. That 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. "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. Through this program we can more easily work together to continue to make NYC such a wonderful place to live and visit."

"New Yorkers live in the fast lane, and this partnership will help them also take the green lane," said David Bragdon, Director of the New York City Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. "The City's own municipal fleet is the second-largest public sector fleet in the nation, after the Federal Government's, but it is important for the private sector to do its part too.  Duane Reade's investment in electric vehicles will help meet our ambitious PlaNYC goal of reducing NYC's green house gas emissions.  We're pleased to work with all the partners in the Mission Electric campaign to drive forward to a greener, cleaner city."

"Electric transportation isn't the future it's the present, and we want to ensure that everyone has a say on how this new technology unfolds," said Christina Ficicchia, Executive Director of NYC and Lower Hudson Valley Clean Cities Coalition. "NYCLHVCC is excited to be Mission Electric's founding partner and we hope that more businesses follow the example set by Duane Reade and the City of New York to get cleaner vehicles on the streets. We encourage New Yorkers to log on, vote and steer the way towards an electric future."

About Duane Reade

Founded in 1960, Duane Reade is the largest drug store chain in New York City. In keeping with the company's brand vision of New York Living Made Easy, Duane Reade provides New Yorkers with prescriptions, health products and services, beauty products and services, food and convenience items for daily life in the City...everything for "How I Feel", "How I Look", and "What I Need Now". The company operates 250+ stores throughout the metropolitan New York region. Duane Reade is part of the Walgreens family of companies, the nation's largest drugstore chain with more than 7,800 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

About Mission Electric

Mission Electric is a partnership between NYCLHVCC, and the city governments of New York, Boston and Philadelphia to promote electric vehicle transportation. Our goal is to impact policy through public engagement in local initiatives. The partnership is funded by a Department of Energy grant led by the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability and the New York City and Lower Hudson Valley Clean Communities coalition (NYCLHVCC).

www.missionelectric.org

SOURCE Duane Reade