PepsiCo claims a 23% efficiency improvement, compared to diesel, with the new Tesla Semi tractor unit which went into service earlier this year.

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A short 12-minute video produced by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) has been released focusing on the operational performance of the 21 new Tesla Semi trucks which have gone into operation with PepsiCo.

Dejan Antunovic, electrification programme manager at PepsiCo, outlines the range of operations the vehicles have been working on, operating on both long-haul and regional distribution. Tesla has deployed 750kW megachargers at PepsiCo facilities. These chargers offer an 80% charge capacity within 45 minutes.

Antunovic cited an average energy efficiency achievement of 1.7 kWh per mile with the Tesla Semi. Importantly, PepsiCo emphasised that this efficiency level has demonstrated continual improvement over recent months. At an off-peak energy tarrif rate of $0.14 per kWh in Sacramento, this efficiency results in a 23% reduction in fuel costs compared to the most efficient diesel trucks. This cost advantage could substantially impact the economics of operating a large truck fleet.

 

With a newly acquired undergraduate degree in Geography and a passion for topics relating to sustainability, I am thrilled to join the team as a research assistant. My role involves gathering valuable information on road freight and commercial vehicle decarbonisation, contributing to cutting-edge research in this crucial field.View full Profile

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