PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) has announced the expansion of its electric-powered fleet in California. Over the next several months, the company will deploy fifty Class 8 Tesla Semi trucks from its manufacturing and distribution facility in Fresno, California, and 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans across the state. This initiative is part of PBNA’s efforts to achieve its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
The Fresno facility, a 170,000-square-foot manufacturing site, will utilize eight 750-kilowatt Tesla chargers and two Tesla Megapack Battery Energy Storage Systems to power the new electric Semis. The facility distributes a range of PepsiCo products, including Pepsi, STARRY, Gatorade, Rockstar, and Aquafina. John Dean, President of PBNA’s West Division, emphasized that fleet electrification is integral to the company’s pep+ strategy, which aligns sustainability with core business operations.
In addition to the Tesla Semis, PBNA is deploying 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans across its 13 locations in California. These vans will be used for various purposes, including sales deliveries and service support, further advancing the electrification of PBNA’s fleet.
The introduction of electric vehicles at the Fresno facility also marks the beginning of a job training program for students at Reedley College and Duncan Polytechnic High School. This program, which will educate over 100 students annually, focuses on providing hands-on training in electric truck operation and infrastructure maintenance.
PepsiCo’s involvement in the North American Council for Freight Efficiency’s (NACFE) 2023 Run on Less Electric Depot showcased the effective integration of electrified Semis into its operations. Tesla Semis operating out of PBNA’s Sacramento facility were part of this demonstration. Additionally, Frito-Lay North America (FLNA), a division of PepsiCo, operates a fleet of Tesla Semis from its Modesto, California facility and participated in NACFE’s 2023 Run on Less with Ford E-Transits at their Queens, New York location.