Soli Organic, an indoor agriculture company, has announced the addition of a battery-electric truck to its fleet. The company is working with Penske Truck Leasing to deploy a Freightliner eCascadia vehicle at its Virginia-based logistics hub.
The electric truck will be used to distribute Soli Organic’s produce for a six-month pilot programme. This initiative aims to provide insights into the potential operational and environmental impacts of electrifying the company’s supply chain.
Soli Organic has been implementing various measures to reduce its environmental impact. These include optimising delivery routes, locating indoor farms near consumer markets, and developing growing technology that eliminates the use of certain fertilisers.
Matt Ryan, CEO of Soli Organic, said: “The addition of this new electric vehicle is a testament to Soli Organic’s ongoing commitment to using innovation to help us advance our leadership in sustainability. This trial will provide us with valuable insights into the operational efficiencies and environmental benefits of electrifying our supply chain.”
Penske Truck Leasing, which provides Soli Organic’s vehicle fleet, expressed support for the initiative. Paul Rosa, Penske senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning, said: “We are very pleased to support Soli Organic’s continued sustainability efforts. The Freightliner eCascadia is designed to deliver strong performance while minimising environmental impact.”
Recently, Soli Organic opened a new indoor farming facility in San Antonio, Texas. The company reports that this facility uses 90% less water and 99% less land compared to traditional outdoor farming methods.
