US firm Pepsico has started receiving the “first several” of an order of 50 Class 8 Semi electric trucks made by Tesla at its Fresno, CA manufacturing and distribution facility, according to the firm’s electrification project manager Dejan Antunovic. And it will supplement this heavy-duty electrification with 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans rolled out across the state.
The Fresno order, which will reach its 50 total over several months, “marks our largest heavy duty EV deployment to date”, Antunovic says. When fulfilled, Pepsi will boast 86 Semis deployed across three CA locations.
“We hosted a large training last week which was a massive success,” Antunovic continues. “Our drivers were absolutely thrilled and gave immense positive feedback on the new trucks. We will continue to demonstrate the value of an internal MCS charging network and show that heavy duty trucking is ready for electrification.”
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The Pepsico Beverages North America (PBNA) Fresno location is a 170,000ft2 manufacturing facility with a fleet operation that distributes products including Pepsi, Starry, Gatorade, Rockstar, Aquafina, and more. At the facility, eight 750kW Tesla chargers and two Tesla Megapack battery energy storage systems have been installed onsite to power the Semis.
“Our fleet electrification is an important part of our pep+ strategy and illustrates how sustainability is a core business strategy at Pepsico — good for the planet, good for our business, and good for the communities we serve," said John Dean, president for PBNA, West Division.
PBNA will also deploy 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans across all of its 13 locations in California, serving a variety of applications including sales deliveries and service support.
Pepsi's participation in the North American Council for Freight Efficiency's 2023 Run on Less Electric Depot “demonstrated the ability to seamlessly integrate electrified Semis into PBNA's business through the Tesla Semis operating out of PBNA's Sacramento facility”, the firm says. Its Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) division also has a fleet of Tesla Semis operating out of its Modesto, CA facility, while FLNA's Queens, NY facility participated in the 2023 Run on Less with a fleet of Ford E-Transits.
Expanding PBNA's electric fleet is supported by a grant provided by the California Air Resources Board, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the California Energy Commission as part of their California Climate Investments, a state-wide initiative that aims, Pepsico says, to put billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Tesla aims to make Semis available not just to trial customers like Pepsi but for general sale in early 2026.
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