PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division announced that
the company will be rolling out eight new electric trucks in the Boston
area.
These electric delivery trucks join the largest fleet of
commercial all-electric trucks in North America.
Frito-Lay will be covering a
total of 18 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S. by the end of this
year.
There are many benefits from this green initiative.
Electric trucks reduce fuel consumption, noise pollution and CO2 emissions,
compared to traditional delivery trucks. Frito-Lay is deploying 176 electric
trucks this year in the U.S. and Canada, making Frito-Lay the largest
commercial fleet of all-electric trucks in North America.
“The electric vehicle program builds on a
long-standing commitment by Frito-Lay North America and its parent company
PepsiCo to environmental sustainability,” said Mike O’Connell, senior
director of fleet for Frito-Lay North America.
“With the seventh largest privately owned fleet in
the U.S., we have set a goal of becoming the most fuel efficient fleet in the
country, and these vehicles give us an opportunity to use the latest advances
in transportation technology as a significant way to reduce our environmental
impact,” O’Connell added.
The trucks are designed by Smith Electric Vehicles. These
trucks generate zero tailpipe emissions and operate for up to 100 miles on a
single charge. Frito-Lay’s fleet program aligns with the Massachusetts Clean
Cities Coalition, which works with vehicle fleets, fuel providers, community
leaders and other stakeholders to reduce petroleum use in transportation.
Once all the 176 electric trucks are fully deployed,
Frito-Lay will eliminate the need for 500,000 gallons of fuel annually. Each
truck emits 75 percent less greenhouse gases than a conventional diesel truck.
“Frito-Lay’s investment in cleaner, more sustainable
transportation serves as an excellent example of a major US corporation,
PepsiCo, making a significant public commitment to the reduction of
greenhouse gases and reduced energy consumption,” said Energy and
Environmental Affairs Undersecretary Barbara Kates-Garnick.
Smith Electric, the truck manufacturer, is a leader in
the development of commercial electric trucks designed to operate at peak
effectiveness in urban environments. Smith Electric produces the Newton, which
is the only medium duty (class 4 – 7) all-electric commercial truck on the
market.
By GreentechLead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com