PLANO, TEXAS – By the end of this year, Frito-Lay North America will have more than 275 all-electric trucks deployed in the U.S., making it the largest commercial fleet of all-electric trucks in the country.

Parent company PepsiCo is ranked No. 5 on the 2012 Top Commercial Fleets and No. 22 on the Top 50 Green Fleets.

One hundred and five of the all-electric units will be operating in Frito Lay’s California fleet.

The initial rollout of all-electric trucks in California has already eliminated the need for an estimated 50,000 gallons of fuel and 1 million lbs. of greenhouse gases (GHG), according to the company. When all 105 trucks are deployed by the end of this year, Frito-Lay expects to eliminate 200,000 gallons of fuel and nearly 4.5 million lbs. of GHG emissions annually in the state of California. 

The new all-electric trucks will operate from distribution centers located throughout California: Alameda, City of Industry, La Mirada, Manteca, San Diego, San Jose, and Torrance.

"With the continued introduction of electric vehicles into our fleet, Frito-Lay continues to assert its commitment to environmental sustainability," said Leslie Starr Keating, senior vice president, supply chain for Frito-Lay North America. "Nearly 20 percent of our medium-heavy duty delivery trucks in the state of California are slated to be transitioned to all-electric vehicles.  We have seen the accelerated growth and acquisition of this innovative technology because of the support from California. It's these private and public partnerships that create the momentum that alternative fuel vehicles need to become even more competitive."

To support the introduction of all-electric vehicles to the state of California, Frito-Lay received a grant from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), specifically in the South Coast Air Quality Management District.  The company also received funding from the California Energy Commission and the Hybrid Truck Bus Voucher Incentive Project from California Air Resources Board, administered by CalStart.

In the U.S., Frito-Lay hopes to reduce its total fuel consumption and GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2020, compared to 2007 baseline. This effort supports PepsiCo's commitments to environmental sustainability, particularly in fuel and GHG reduction. Across PepsiCo, in addition to electric trucks, the company has introduced 267 hybrid electric trucks and 67 compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors; 176 hybrid electric vehicles and14 CNG tractors are scheduled to operate in California.

Once all of the electric trucks are fully deployed across the U.S., Frito-Lay will eliminate the need for 500,000 gallons of fuel annually. In addition, Frito Lay said the all-electric delivery trucks offer the following benefits:

• Can run up to 80 miles on a single charge.

• Have zero tailpipe emissions.

• Emit 75-percent less greenhouse gas than diesel.

• Operate virtually silent, eliminating noise pollution.

• Provide a long-term economically viable solution to traditional fuel sources.

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