Aberdeen plant improves operational efficiency with EVs
Photo courtesy of MW Logistics and Lazer Logistics.
In a move to improve its operational efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint, our Clorox manufacturing facility in Aberdeen, Maryland, recently became our first plant to introduce new electric vehicles, known as “hostlers,” into its daily operations. Hostlers are the semi-tractors that move trailers and containers within our manufacturing facilities, making it easier to move large quantities of products and ingredients swiftly throughout the plant. We spoke with Aberdeen’s plant manager, Will Smith, about these new additions to the facility.
What inspired the decision to introduce these new hostlers into your plant operations?
At Clorox, we’re always looking for ways to improve our operations, whether it’s enhancing efficiency, reducing our environmental impact or creating a safer, more effective workplace for our team. One challenge in a busy environment like ours is managing noise levels so our teammates can communicate and coordinate seamlessly throughout the day.
When our third-party logistics partners presented us with an opportunity to introduce new hostlers that could help lower noise while also making our operations more efficient and sustainable, it was an easy decision. This solution also reduces our carbon footprint.
How do these electric hostlers compare to traditional gas or diesel-powered vehicles?
This switch brings several advantages over traditional diesel-powered hostlers. One of the biggest benefits is that EVs require less maintenance and should prove to have reduced downtime compared to a diesel vehicle. Over time, that means fewer costly repairs and maintenance needs. Operationally, this solution also helps lower our long-term expenses — unlike diesel vehicles, they don’t require oil changes, engine repairs or transmission maintenance.
On top of that, electric motors are much more efficient, meaning less energy is wasted during operation. The EVs are also generally quieter and more convenient and comfortable to drive compared to a diesel vehicle, so the drivers are big fans. It’s a smart choice for efficiency, cost savings and our commitment to more sustainable business operations.
Were there any key learnings or challenges your team experienced when taking steps to make this transition?
Like any transition to new technology, moving to electric hostlers came with a learning curve, but the benefits have made it well worth the effort. One key learning was understanding how to best integrate EVs into our existing operations to maximize efficiency while minimizing disruption. That meant working closely with our logistics partners to ensure a smooth rollout and providing training so our team felt comfortable with the new equipment.
Another important factor was infrastructure planning, as we needed to assess charging logistics to ensure the hostlers remained operational without impacting productivity. Overall, this process reinforced the importance of collaboration and strategic planning. Every challenge we worked through helped us refine our approach — not just for this facility, but for how we can integrate electric vehicles across more of our operations in the future. I’d like to give a big shout-out to our site engineer, Bill Jaskot, for leading the effort to scope out the infrastructure needed to make this possible.
How do electric vehicles align with Clorox’s overall business goals?
Transitioning to electric hostlers is a natural step in advancing Clorox’s broader efforts to reimagine work in service of our IGNITE corporate strategy. What makes this transition even more impactful is that our plant is already powered by 100% renewable energy*, so by using electric vehicles we’re maximizing the environmental benefits of clean energy and eliminating tailpipe emissions from our hostlers.
This marks an exciting step forward in making our operations smarter and more sustainable, and this is just the beginning. We intentionally started with a small pilot to gather these learnings and are assessing if we can scale across other manufacturing locations to further reduce emissions and improve efficiency companywide.
Clorox’s sustainability goals are integrated into our IGNITE strategy because we believe they create value for our company, brands, people and communities. Learn more here.
*Achieved through renewable energy credits via virtual power purchase agreements.