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8 Top Companies Paving the Way in Heavy-Duty EV Fleets

May 24, 2024

EVs have made their debut on the commercial scene – and heavy-duty EV fleets are a major part of that action. Although smaller EVs have played a key role in last-mile commercial applications, companies have begun to put larger EVs on the road as more charging facilities spring up around the world. Here are some of the top companies paving the way in heavy-duty commercial EV fleets.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

1. PepsiCo

Image via Wikimedia Commons

With 500 miles on a single charge, Tesla Semis are the workhorses of the heavy-duty EV world. So, it’s no wonder that the world’s most prominent companies are now lining up to deploy these trucks in their commercial fleets.

PepsiCo led the way, placing the first orders for these trucks for a pilot project to see whether the company could realistically achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. Other companies, including Martin Brower, Sysco, and Walmart, have followed suit.

2. Schneider National

Less than one year after adopting EVs into its commercial heavy-duty fleet, Schneider National passed the 1-million-mile zero emissions mark late in 2023. With around 100 BEV eCascadia semi-trucks, Schneider National is a major player in the nation’s move toward sustainable transportation.

Not only is Schneider the hauler of choice for many national brands, including Frito-Lay and Goodyear, but it’s also making its drivers happy with its move toward electrification. In a January 2024 Washington Post interview, Schneider driver Marty Boots praised the EV’s “lightness and smoothness,” likening the truck’s handling ability to a ballet dancer’s agility.

Although the eCascadias lack the massive range of the Tesla Semi, it can charge up to 80 percent in 90 minutes. With the trucks’ 220-mile range, drivers will take more breaks, making them more likely to avoid driver fatigue – a significant factor in accidents according to the OSHA employee safety standards.

3. Amazon

One of the first adopters of EVs for final-mile delivery, Amazon just rolled out its heavy-duty EV fleet in early May of this year. The company plans to deploy 50 of the semis in Southern California to handle its first-mile freight transportation from ocean ports to the next steps in the shipments’ journey.

If all goes well – and it should – Amazon plans to use the heavy-duty EVs for their middle-mile operations as well, taking on cargo from first-mile vehicles to transport it to fulfillment centers, sort centers, delivery stations, and air facilities located further inland. Amazon’s Volvo semis have a 275-mile range and weigh 82,000 pounds in total. With the EVs’ leading-edge safety features, ergonomic interior, and lower noise levels, they should prove safer on the road than their diesel predecessors.

4. CEMEX

Partnering with Volvo, global construction products giant CEMEX has introduced heavy-duty electric trucks into its European concrete mixer fleets. The mixer trucks can do “a full day’s work on a single top-up charge,” making them a practical, emissions-free solution that will speed up production on construction sites.

With quieter-running vehicles and zero emissions, CEMEX’s new EV fleet will likely be a popular choice for large-city construction projects. As the company’s reputation grows as an environmentally friendly solution for urban construction, it will move even closer to its ambition to be a net-zero company by the year 2050.

5. Penske

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Vehicle leasing giant Penske began electrifying its heavy-duty fleet late in 2022 when it took delivery of its first all-electric eCascadia semi-trucks. This acquisition only added to its already-existing fleet of smaller commercial vehicles.

With a 230-mile long-range capability and a 155-mile standard range, drivers will need to stop for a 90-minute break to recharge to 80 percent every three hours or so. Again, this is more of a feature than a bug, given OSHA’s employee safety standards. Safer drivers mean fewer insurance claims and, therefore, reduced operational costs.

6. DHL

In December 2023, DHL, an international player in the logistics industry, introduced two EV semis into its California-based fleet. As part of the company’s commitment to have 30 percent of its North American fleet converted to zero-emission vehicles by 2030, the move is only the first step in the process.

Unlike many other logistics companies, DHL plans to upgrade its EV operations in flyover country with 11 more heavy-duty EVs to deploy in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, as well as more trucks for its California fleet. With the vehicles’ 250-mile range and half the energy consumption of its diesel trucks, the buy should prove to be a money-saver for the company as well as making it more eco-friendly.

7. Coca-Cola

Not to let PepsiCo grab a foothold in leveraging EVs’ efficiency and economy in the beverage industry, Coca-Cola countered Pepsi’s Tesla Semi buy with an order of their own – for 20 eCascadia Freightliners, delivered to Coke’s bottling and distribution facility in Downey, California.

The company plans to use the EV semis for short-haul applications, such as last-mile delivery, food and beverage supply trucks, regional distribution, and local drayage. It estimates these trucks will reduce the facility’s diesel fuel consumption by nearly 40,000 gallons. At today’s diesel prices, these EV semis will save the company around $154,000 in fuel costs alone, not to mention maintenance.

8. Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Transportation

While the county’s public transportation operations aren’t technically a company, their innovative solution to powering their heavy-duty EV bus fleet should inspire companies and non-profits nationwide. Utilizing a microgrid and smart energy management, the county created an onsite source of renewable energy that allowed them to sidestep the electrical grid, reducing the buses’ usage of power resources that other customers likely need.

Take the Next Step Towards Heavy-Duty Sustainability

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Putting onsite sustainable energy resources to work and creating alternative power sources for heavy trucks can help more companies see the benefits of using EV technology to power even the heaviest vehicles in their fleets. But if your company’s leadership never sees how such technology is possible, they’ll not be able to realize those benefits.

Consider inviting your company executives to attend the next EV Charging Summit event. There, they can network with the finest minds in the EV charging and manufacturing industry. As a result, they’ll come away with greater EV knowledge and be more likely to consider switching at least part of their heavy-duty fleets to EVs. Encourage them to register today!

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