Frito-Lay, a well-known company, has been utilizing Tesla Semi all-electric Class 8 trucks in their fleet for a couple of years now. As their fleet transitions to more local runs and with plans to expand to more Semi units, the need for additional Megachargers has become apparent. To meet this demand, Frito-Lay has decided to build more chargers at their Bakersfield, California facility, as per new permits filed by Tesla.
The company already has chargers at their Modesto, California factory, but with Bakersfield being approximately three hours south of Modesto, the decision to build additional chargers in this location makes logistical sense. Interestingly, Tesla is referring to these chargers as “Semi Chargers” in the filing, possibly indicating a shift in terminology from “Megachargers.”
In preparation for the Semi becoming one of Frito-Lay’s main logistics tools for deliveries in California and surrounding states, the company began installing these chargers in 2022. Frito-Lay is not the only company utilizing the Tesla Semi for pilot runs, as PepsiCo has also been prominently using the Semi over the past two years.
Moreover, the Tesla Semi participated in the Run on Less EV trucking study in late 2023, successfully completing a 1,000-mile run in a single day. Tesla is gearing up to ramp production of the Semi later this year, with VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy stating on the Q4 2024 Earnings Call that the first builds of the high-volume Semi design will commence late this year before ramping up production in early 2026.
The production of these units will take place at a new Semi production facility in Reno near Tesla’s Gigafactory. Construction of the facility is progressing well, as shown in a recent drone video update. Tesla’s commitment to advancing electric trucking technology through the Semi is evident, and the company is on track to deliver on its promises for a sustainable future in transportation.