Swedish freight mobility firm Einride is expanding into the UK after signing a deal to deploy its connected electric trucks between PepsiCo's Walkers manufacturing sites in Leicester and Coventry.
Over the three-year partnership, the truck fleet, powered by Einride’s intelligent Saga platform, will cover more than 750,000 miles, cutting the equivalent of over 1,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Einride's PepsiCo partnership is part of the company's major expansion plans in the UK and Ireland which will see it use an ecosystem of products - including the intelligent platform Einride Saga, electric and autonomous fleets, charging infrastructure and connectivity networks - to establish a regional freight mobility grid along the M1, M5 and M6 between London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.
The grid concept aims to simplify freight management over long distances and remove inefficiencies using smart handovers which prevent goods from being delayed due to battery recharges or a change in driver.
Once a critical mass of transportation volumes is established, the expansion of the grid will be further supported by algorithmic optimisation provided by Einride Saga and by introducing human-led autonomous technologies such as Einride’s heavy duty, cabless trucks which are monitored by a remote operator.
Einride takes overall responsibility for all logistical touchpoints, from intelligent software to reliable charging infrastructure and maintenance services.
Announcing its plans this week, Einride said the starting point will be the Midlands’ "golden logistics triangle," which lies within four hours’ drive of 90% of the British population and contains a significant share of the country’s logistics and warehousing facilities.
Using this system, the company said it will establish a "vast network of partners" as it expands further into the UK and Ireland, connecting additional shippers and operators, with the aim of creating a cost-efficient scaling of the grid together with increased emission savings.
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Announcing the deal with PepsiCo, Robert Falck, Einride founder and chief executive, said: "The UK has always been at the forefront of transport history. The efficient and innovative movement of goods has consistently been integral to the growth and prosperity of the UK, with the British pioneering both the railway system and canal networks.
“We’re honoured to be here, teaming up with local partners to further establish the UK as a transport pioneer and ultimately help the country meet its net zero goals.”
Archana Jagannathan, PepsiCo head of sustainability, added: "At PepsiCo, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our business, with a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040 as part of our PepsiCo Positive agenda.
"Our partnership with Einride is a small yet important step towards that ambition, one that will help us drive meaningful progress in sustainable transport.
"With this initial deployment, we’re looking forward to better understanding the potential role electric trucks can play in our transport operations.
This week's UK launch follows Einride’s 2022 expansion into Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway.
The company operates heavy-duty electric freight in Sweden and the US and operates fleets for industry giants such as Maersk, AB InBev, Lidl and GE Appliances, a Haier company.
Einride's partners have seen an up to 95% decrease in CO2 emissions while remaining cost competitive, since electrifying their road freight, the company has reported.
