FRESNO, Calif. — PepsiCo is significantly expanding its fleet of battery-electric big rigs and vans, with a focus on its operations in California. The company’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.
According to a report from Trucking Dive, the food and beverage giant’s fleet of Tesla Semis in Fresno, California, has grown to 50 trucks. This expansion is supported by an increase in charging capacity at its facility through a partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Dejan Antunovic, electrification program manager for PepsiCo, noted that the company is “now seeing electrification of the fleet provide a lower cost solution over time.”
The company’s electric fleet, which includes Tesla Semis and Ford E-Transit vans, operates out of several locations across the state, including Sacramento and Modesto. As stated in a PepsiCo press release, the new vehicles will help the company progress toward its “pep+ (PepsiCo Positive)” strategy. The company has also initiated a job training program for over 100 students annually from Reedley College and Duncan Polytechnic High School to provide hands-on training for maintaining and operating the new electric trucks and infrastructure.
The expansion comes as a result of PepsiCo’s participation in the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s “Run on Less” event, which highlighted the viability of integrating electric vehicles into commercial trucking. A driver for Frito-Lay, Eric Tutorow, noted the operational benefits, stating to 3BL Media that the trucks are quiet and easy to handle. “You don’t hear the engine noise,” Tutorow said. “After driving this many years, it’s kind of nice not to go home with a headache from road noise.”