Electric Autonomous truck delivers Walkers Crisps: Einride enters UK market with PepsiCo partnership

Einride , a freight mobility company that provides digital, electric and autonomous technology, has today announced the expansion of its operations into the United Kingdom. The launch comes at a time when the?UK Department for Transport ?is looking to build a sustainable future of freight, where goods are moved through cost-efficient, reliable, resilient, seamless and net zero means?–?a vision that Einride shares.

This is a big moment for the UK where 1.6 billion tonnes of goods are transported around the country by road each year, yet road haulage is also responsible for over 20 per cent of domestic carbon emissions.??

Putting the UK on the fast track towards net zero goal

Through an ecosystem of products, including the intelligent platform Einride Saga,?electric vehicle ?(EV) and autonomous fleets, charging infrastructure and connectivity networks, Einride will provide the UK with a new and sustainable end-to-end road freight solution.?

Powered by these technologies, Einride will establish a regional freight mobility grid along the M1, M5 and M6 between the major metropolitan cities of London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol, covering the UK’s most densely trafficked motorway routes.?

The starting point will be the Midlands’ ‘golden logistics?triangle,’ which lies within a four hours drive of 90 per cent of the British population and contains a significant concentration of the country’s logistics and warehousing facilities.

Robert Falck, Einride founder and CEO, said: “The UK has always been at the forefront of transport history. Efficient and innovative movement of goods has always 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.”

First commercial partnership with PepsiCo’s Walkers

Einride’s first commercial partner in the UK,?PepsiCo , will have an initial deployment using Einride-connected?electric trucks ?between its Walkers manufacturing sites in Leicester and Coventry.?

Over the three-year partnership, the fleet of trucks powered by Einride’s intelligent platform,?Saga , will enable PepsiCo to reduce the distance travelled using fossil fuel-powered trucks by over 250,000 miles annually, reducing the equivalent of 1,623 tonnes of CO2 emissions across three years. This is good news, and hopefully, more brands like this will follow suit as they move to more sustainable transport logistics and towards carbon-neutral goals.

Archana Jagannathan, Head of Sustainability at PepsiCo UK, said: “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.”

Grids accelerate access to electrification

As in other markets, Einride’s UK freight ecosystem will operate on a grid system that is planned, optimised and monitored through the Einride Saga platform. The grid concept simplifies freight management over long distances and removes inefficiencies that are otherwise typical for the industry, with smart handovers meaning goods don’t have to wait for battery recharges or a change in driver.?

Unlike other freight providers, Einride takes overall responsibility for all logistical touch-points, from intelligent software through to reliable charging infrastructure and maintenance services, to provide a holistic and high-quality service for its customers.

Einride plans to establish a vast network of partners as it expands further into the UK and Ireland, connecting additional shippers and operators which will enable?cost-efficient scaling of the grid together with increased emission savings.?

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, cab-less trucks which are monitored by a remote operator.?

Today’s launch follows Einride’s 2022 expansion into Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway, as well as $500 million in financing secured in December.?

The company is the leading operator of heavy-duty electric freight in Sweden and the US, and across its markets, Einride operates fleets for industry giants such as Maersk, AB InBev, Lidl and GE Appliances, a Haier company. Since electrifying their road freight with Einride, partners have seen an up to 95 per cent decrease in CO2 emissions while remaining cost competitive.