PepsiCo Beverages North America (NASDAQ:PEP) revealed plans this week to enhance its California fleet by adding 50 Tesla electric semi-trucks, aligning with the company’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. These efforts mark a significant step towards sustainability within the snack and beverage industry.
The deployment of these Tesla electric semi-trucks will occur gradually over the next few months, with the vehicles serving from PepsiCo’s manufacturing and distribution hub located in Fresno. Additionally, PepsiCo intends to integrate 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans into its California fleet across 13 locations to support deliveries and service operations. These initiatives underscore PepsiCo’s dedication to reducing emissions throughout its operational footprint.
John Dean, a president at PepsiCo, emphasized the importance of fleet electrification in the company’s pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) strategy, highlighting sustainability as a fundamental business approach that benefits the environment, the company, and the communities it serves.
The move towards electrification comes amidst California’s push to address greenhouse gas emissions, with the transportation sector contributing significantly to the state’s emissions. To combat this, California aims to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, prompting a shift towards emission-free heavy-duty trucks. However, legal challenges from a coalition of states seek to halt the implementation of these regulations.
In conjunction with this initiative, PepsiCo is launching a job training program for students from Reedley College and Duncan Polytechnic High School, offering hands-on experience in the realm of electric trucks and infrastructure maintenance.
PepsiCo’s Fresno facility, spanning 170,000 square feet, serves as a key distribution center for its beverage products. In preparation for the arrival of the electric trucks, the company has installed chargers and battery energy storage systems.
Despite initial production delays, company leaders have commended the performance of the Tesla electric semi-trucks, particularly their impressive range of up to 450 miles per day. PepsiCo placed its first order for these trucks in 2017, following Elon Musk’s initial proposal, albeit facing production setbacks.
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