PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), in their Sacramento setup, is showcasing their electric fleet, which includes the Tesla Semi trucks, at the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s (NACFE) “Run on Less: Electric Depot” trucking event this month. Since their initial acquisition in December 2022, these electric trucks have covered close to 680,000 Zero Emissions (ZE) miles as of September 1.
Why It Matters
PBNA’s commitment to electrifying its fleet aligns with PepsiCo’s broader pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2040. Such active participation and transparent showcasing in public events like the NACFE’s reinforces the need for sustainable transportation and pushes the freight industry towards a more eco-friendly future.
Key Points
- Diverse Electric Fleet: PBNA’s Sacramento facility utilizes various electric vehicles including BYD Electric yard tractors, light-duty Ford E-Transit Service vehicles, and 21 Tesla Semis.
- Tesla Semi Routes: The Tesla Semis operate in two primary types of routes. They either run long-haul distances between 250 and 520 miles or have 18 distinct delivery routes covering less than 75 miles daily.
- Performance in NACFE Event: Out of the participating Tesla Semis, three have logged 19,122 miles in two weeks. About 65% of these miles were under loads exceeding 70,000 pounds.
- Charging Infrastructure: Preparations for the Tesla Semis involved setting up four 750-kilowatt Tesla chargers at the Sacramento facility, achieving a total of 3 megawatts of concurrent charging capability.
- Support from California: Expansion of PBNA’s electric fleet was partly funded through a grant by the California Air Resources board under their California Climate Investments initiative.
Bottom Line
PepsiCo is not just limiting their eco-efforts within their company, but is also engaging with external stakeholders, like the recent deal with TeraWatt Infrastructure. As they continue to scale their electric fleet and share insights about electric transportation, the industry receives vital data and lessons on the challenges and benefits of going green. This push towards electric transportation, spearheaded by giants like PepsiCo, signals a promising shift in the industry towards sustainability.
