All-electric delivery trucks hit the streets of Columbus

Frito-Lay North America division, the US$13 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo, has started rolling out some of its fully electric delivery trucks in Columbus.
March 1, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
3488 Frito-Lay North America division, the US$13 billion convenient foods business unit of 3493 PepsiCo, has started rolling out some of its fully electric delivery trucks in Columbus. The first 10 trucks which are going into service will ultimately be part of the largest planned fleet of commercial all-electric trucks in North America.  This year, Columbus is one of three cities in the US, along with New York City and Ft. Worth, Texas, to deploy the vehicles with plans to roll out an additional 155 trucks in 2011.

Once the planned 176 electric trucks are deployed, Frito-Lay will eliminate the need for 500,000 gallons of fuel annually. Each truck emits 75 per cent less greenhouse gases than a conventional diesel truck.

"The electric vehicle programme builds on a long-standing commitment by Frito-Lay North America and its parent company PepsiCo to environmental sustainability," said Mike O'Connell, director of fleet for Frito Lay North America. "With the seventh largest privately owned fleet in the US, 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."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Australian truck platooning partnership announced
    October 12, 2016
    Peloton Technology, a US-based automated and connected vehicle technology company and the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) yesterday announced an industry partnership that will explore the safety and fuel efficiency benefits of truck platooning in Australia.
    Read More
  • Multiple patents granted for in-wheel electric drive
    March 22, 2012
    Protean Electric, a specialist in advanced in-wheel motors for the automotive industry, has been awarded 17 patents for the unique technology and design of its Protean Drive system. More than 60 additional patent applications have been filed internationally and with specific countries in North America, Europe and Asia. Protean Electric chairman and CEO Bob Purcell says his company’s in-wheel motor design is unlike conventional motors or combustion powertrains with electric motors added. "We started with a c
    Read More
  • NZ Bus transitioning to electric powered vehicles
    April 22, 2016
    New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company has announced a US$30m deal with US electric vehicle powertrain manufacturer Wrightspeed to supply its Route 500, which it intends to deploy on its public transport business through NZ Bus. Wrightspeed's Route 500 range-extended powertrain is capable of powering vehicles weighing up to 36,000 pounds, in grades as steep as 40 per cent, and maintains an efficient drive, with an estimated 11.1 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent. The 80kW, fuel agnostic fulc
    Read More
  • London to have three more fully-electric bus routes
    July 7, 2017
    Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, have announced three more electric-only bus routes in the city on routes 46, 153 and 214, the latest in a series of measures to tackle London’s toxic air.
    Read More

Highlighted Content