PepsiCo Could Save 1 Million in Fuel by Going Electric

PepsiCo Could Save $1 Million in Fuel by Going Electric

  • Posted byby Steve

PepsiCo is making some serious moves toward sustainability—and saving big while doing it. The company’s plan to charge its 50 electric semi trucks at its Fresno bottling plant is expected to bring in nearly $1 million in fuel savings.This exciting update came straight from PepsiCo’s April 28 press release.

But how is this possible? It’s all thanks to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Flex Connect program. This program has given PepsiCo the green light for daytime charging access, which was a big hurdle before.

Why This Matters

  • Without Flex Connect, PepsiCo would have been stuck charging only overnight, between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
  • Daytime charging now means PepsiCo can keep their EV trucks running smoothly throughout the day.
  • PG&E is expanding the site’s charging limit from 3 to 4.5 megawatts.

According to Dejan Antunovic, PepsiCo’s electrification program manager, this upgrade makes a big difference.

“Without Flex Connect, daytime charging just wouldn’t have been possible for us,” he shared in an interview.

Quick Charging, Smooth Operations

  • PepsiCo can now fully charge all 50 trucks instead of just 30.
  • Charging the battery from zero to 80% takes roughly 40 to 60 minutes.
  • The fleet can operate without major adjustments, even with the 4.5 MW cap instead of 6 MW.

Summer usually creates more energy demand on the grid, but Flex Connect helps PepsiCo balance their charging needs by shifting extra power across different days and times.

PepsiCo’s Bigger EV Push

  • PepsiCo isn’t stopping at Fresno.
  • Right now, the Modesto Frito-Lay site has 15 EV trucks actively on the road.
  • PepsiCo uses 21 Tesla trucks in Sacramento and 24 in Torrance.
  • Altogether, PepsiCo and Frito-Lay are moving toward a cleaner future with about 1,500 electric vehicles of all sizes.

PepsiCo’s journey shows how big brands can drive sustainability and still keep their operations strong.

At Lading Logistics, we make sure your shipments move safely, efficiently, and in the most eco-friendly way possible.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and sources cited below. 

Sources: Yahoo Finance, LinkedIn, Trucking Dive