Frito-Lay Adds Another 100 Electric Trucks to Its Fleet

Frito-Lay, one of the United States' largest snack food companies, has taken another step forward in its efforts to reduce its carbon emissions.  The company has announced it will purchase 100 more all-electric trucks and will introduce compressed natural gas vehicles into its fleet in 2012.

The famous snack-maker has set an ambitious goal to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and its fuel consumption, both by 50%, by 2020.  To that end, it has incorporated 176 all-electric trucks by Smith Electric Vehicles over the past two years.  These trucks have already eliminated 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel and have travelled over one million miles.

Now, there will be 100 more added to the mix.  The electric trucks are used for shorter, urban delivery routes.

WIth the seventh largest privately-owned fleet in the United States, over 20,000 vehicles, Frito-Lay knows in order to meet its target, it will need to make use of several different transportation technologies, one of which is natural gas. 

"As we push to make Frito-Lay's fleet the most fuel efficient commercial fleet in the U.S., we need to continue to build on our current strategy and look for options to address other types of trucks in the fleet -- one of which will be compressed natural gas for our tractor fleet," Mike O'Connell, senior director of fleet capability for Frito-Lay North America explained.

So, compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks will be introduced into Frito-Lay's operations this year; they will be used to haul large loads.  Purchased from Freightliners, 67 new CNG trucks will be used at seven different distribution centers.  CNG trucks emit 23% less greenhouse gas than their diesel counterparts; so, Frito-Lay anticipates it will save 900,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually.

Image courtesy: erlyrizrjr via Flickr