PLANO, TEXAS – Frito-Lay North America, one of the largest commercial fleets in the U.S., is conducting an electric vehicle pilot program with the help of Electric Vehicles International (EVI), an alternative-fuel vehicle developer and manufacturer.

EVI's signature all-electric powertrain is integrated into an industry standard Daimler Freightliner M2 business class chassis, providing customers with significant fuel and maintenance savings. The EVI Medium Duty (EVI-MD) Class 6 electric vehicle boasts a 90-mile range, top speed of 65 miles per hour, and a 99 kWh lithium phosphate battery system from Valence Technology (VLNC), according to the manufacturer.

After completing a test of the all-electric EVI-MD on a delivery route in Alameda, Calif., Frito-Lay has committed to purchase five additional EVI-MD vehicles to be used in Northern California.

"Frito-Lay and its parent PepsiCo are regularly evaluating innovative and industry leading approaches and technologies to improve the performance of the fleet, while also trying to minimize the environmental impact," said Mike O'Connell, senior director of Fleet Capability at Frito-Lay North America. "The EVI electric vehicles give Frito-Lay another promising option to help meet our long term goal of being the greenest fleet in North America."

"EVI is excited to work with Frito-Lay on expanding their fleet of electric vehicles," said Frank Jenkins, vice president of sales and marketing for EVI. "Frito-Lay is a leader in the adoption of zero emission delivery vehicles and is the ideal customer and fleet application for our medium-duty, return-to-base trucks."

Frito-Lay’s parent company, PepsiCo, was ranked No. 7 on Automotive Fleet’s Top 300 Commercial Fleets in 2011.