The trucks, designed by Smith Electric Vehicles Corp., generate zero tailpipe emissions and operate for up to 100 miles on a single charge. La Brea Bakery’s four trucks will travel a combined estimated 1,120 miles a week throughout Los Angeles county to more than 80 retailers and restaurants.
In March of this year, Frito-Lay North America, a unit of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, Inc., initiated a pilot program with Electric Vehicles International that includes using five E.V.I. medium duty trucks in northern California.
Describing the vehicle Frito-Lay is using, 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.
