Einride, PepsiCo cutting Frito-Lay delivery emissions

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A fleet of Einride EV trucks
Einride and Pepsi-Co are joining forces to add battery-electric semis for Frito-Lay product deliveries in the Memphis, Tennessee region, aiming to save 143 metric tons of CO2e emissions annually.
Einride

Two major players in the commercial freight mobility arena are joining forces. Einride and PepsiCo have announced a new partnership to deploy battery-electric semi trucks in the state of Tennessee, specifically the greater Memphis area, to transport Frito-Lay food products. PepsiCo owns Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay. 

Einride provides digital, electric, and autonomous technologies. It's been operating electrified fleets since 2020, working with partner companies to help reduce their emissions by up to 95 percent. 

By taking full advantage of Einride's lineup of connected electric trucks, charging infrastructure, and digital freight platform capable of optimizing operations with data-driven insights, PepsiCo says it will reduce its Scope 3 emissions, typically the most challenging emissions source for big companies. 

[Related: Peterbilt's largest Model 579EV order ever comes from Einride]

“PepsiCo’s decarbonization strategy is not one-size fits all. We’re continuously looking for new and innovative ways to reduce our Scope 3 emissions. Our three-way partnership with Einride and Armstrong Transportation has built a scalable, turn-key approach to electrification-as-a-service with sustainability at the center of our joint goals,” said David Allen, vice president and chief sustainability officer for PepsiCo Foods North America.

The fleet will consist of five vehicles operated by drivers based out of Frito-Lay's Memphis-based carrier Armstrong Transportation. All told, the vehicles are projected to transport over 2,500 loads annually and cover a distance of over 200,000 miles. This will supposedly reduce an approximate 143 metric tons of CO2e emissions every year. 

For its part, Einride has already installed a 700 kW charging station at Armstrong's yard exclusively for Frito-Lay's use. 

[Related: Einride opens 65-charger heavy-duty charging station in southern California]

“We are proud to deploy our technology in partnership with the PepsiCo team, given their ambition to cut emissions at scale with decarbonized freight,” said Robert Falck, CEO and founder of Einride. “These operations will accelerate a cleaner, more efficient supply chain, while showcasing that going electric with freight operations is not just possible, but essential.”  

Jay Traugott has covered the automotive and transportation sector for over a decade and now serves as Senior Editor for Clean Trucking. He holds a drifting license and has driven on some of the world's best race tracks, including the Nurburgring and Spa. He lives near Boulder, Colorado, and spends his free time snowboarding, climbing, and hiking. He can be reached at [email protected].

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The following survey was sent as a link in an email cover message in February 2023 to the newsletter lists for Overdrive and CCJ. After approximately two weeks, a total of 176 owner-operators under their own authority, 113 owner-operators leased or assigned to a carrier and 82 fleet executives and 36 fleet employees from fleets with 10 or more power units had completed and submitted the questionnaire for a total of 407 qualified responses. Cross-tabulations based on respondent type are provided for each question when applicable.
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