Frito-Lay Increases Electric Trucks Fleet in California
Frito-Lay currently uses 60 electric delivery trucks around the state of California, but that number will expand to 105 by the end of the year.
The snack giant plans to add 45 more electric delivery trucks to its current fleet and says that the electric delivery trucks produce 75 percent less greenhouse gas than a comparable diesel-powered truck. On a single battery charge, it can travel up to 80 miles. The electric delivery trucks are manufactured by Smith Electric Vehicles and use lithium-ion battery technology designed for urban settings and heavy “stop-and-go” driving.
The chip and snack division of Pepsi uses the largest of the available delivery trucks that Smith Electric Vehicles supplies – the Newton. Every night, the trucks are charged in distribution centers across the state that have been outfitted with the electrical infrastructure to support them.
The company won’t comment on how much it has invested into the EVs, but did say that the fuel savings and maintenance over comparable diesel trucks “make the electric trucks very competitive.” It’s estimated that the use of electric delivery trucks will save Frito-Lay 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel every year.
[Source: LA Times]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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