POWER Engineers

STOCKTON, CALIF. — A pilot program testing an electronic vehicle for Frito-Lay North America has been launched between Electric Vehicles International and F.L.N.A. parent PepsiCo, Inc.

Frito-Lay, which operates the nation’s seventh largest privately owned commercial fleet, has committed to purchasing five EVI medium duty trucks to be used in northern California. The purchase follows a test of the all-electric vehicle on a delivery route in Alameda, Calif., E.V.I. said.

Describing the vehicle, E.V.I. said its all electric powertrain is “seamlessly integrated into a standard Daimler Freightliner M2 business class chassis.” Benefits include significant fuel and maintenance savings. The vehicle has a 90-mile range, a top speed of 65 miles per hour and uses a 99kWh lithium phosphate battery system made by Valence Technology.

“E.V.I. is excited to work with Frito-Lay on expanding their fleet of electric vehicles,” said Frank Jenkins, vice-president of sales and marketing for E.V.I. “Frito-Lay is a leader in the adoption of zero emission delivery vehicles and is the ideal customer and fleet application for our medium duty, return-to-base trucks.”

Based in Stockton, E.V.I. makes a variety of electric vehicles. In addition to several medium-duty trucks, the company makes walk-in vans and light duty trucks.

“Frito-Lay and its parent PepsiCo are regularly evaluating innovative and industry leading approaches and technologies to improve the performance of the fleet, while also trying to minimize the environmental impact,” said Mike O’Connell, senior director of fleet capability at Frito-Lay North America, Plano, Texas. “The E.V.I. electric vehicles give Frito-Lay another promising option to help meet our long term goal of being the greenest fleet in North America.”

This story is sponsored by POWER Engineers, which has one of the most comprehensive teams of engineers and specialists serving the baking and snack industry. As an extension of its clients' engineering teams, the company provides program management, integrated solutions and full facility design for the baking and snack industry. Learn more at www.powereng.com/food.