Committed to a vast policy of reducing its CO2 emissions, the Pepsico group was one of Tesla’s very first customers, with the aim of putting 100 Semi into circulation this year, the brand’s huge and impressive semi-trailer. American. The order was placed in 2017, several years before the actual marketing of the truck. Today, out of the planned hundred, 36 are already circulating in California: 15 in Modesto and 21 in Sacramento. Pepsico has therefore acquired a certain experience, which it has shared with Internet users.
For short and long distances
Electric is rightly seen as ideal for short to medium distance deliveries. This is precisely the case at the Sacramento site, as noted by Amanda DeVoe, Chief Transformation and Strategy Officer at Pepsi, who noted: “We mainly deliver within 100 miles daily, and we use these vehicles for around 12 hours a day“.
100 miles, or approximately 160 km: a type of delivery to which 18 of the 21 Semis at the Sacramento site are assigned. The other three trucks are dedicated to longer distance deliveries, between 250 and 450 miles (about 400 to 720 km). Under these conditions, Dejan Antunović, director of Pepsi’s electrification program, highlights the effectiveness of the Tesla Semi’s regenerative braking on long descents: “Crossing the Donner Pass, we are able, on the drive back to Sacramento from Nevada, to reduce the electric consumption of the truck to zero thanks to regenerative braking… This extends our range invaluable“.
Overall, the consumption of Semis in actual use sticks fairly closely to the figures announced by Tesla, with just over 1 kWh per kilometer, loaded truck.
Pepsi has deployed 750Wh megachargers at various sites, which allow the Tesla Semi to reach 95% charge in 20 to 30 minutes. Finally, drivers appreciate the comfort of the truck and its ease of driving.