A powerful coalition, including tech giant Microsoft, beverage giant PepsiCo, and logistics heavyweights Maersk, DB Schenker, and AIT Worldwide, is leading the charge to electrify the Interstate 10 trucking corridor. Their focus? Developing charging infrastructure for longhaul battery-electric trucks between Los Angeles and El Paso, Texas. This route links the nation’s busiest ports to the second-busiest border crossing, reports Transport Topics.

A Collaborative Effort

This initiative is a significant step in advancing electric-powered, heavy-duty fleet transport.

Cliff Henson, corporate vice president of the Microsoft Cloud Supply Chain, emphasized the importance of this project:

“As Microsoft works toward our ambitious carbon-neutral goals, implementing a sustainable logistics framework is a critical factor. The I-10 corridor pilot is a key part of building this framework, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of an electric-powered evolution in logistics.”

PepsiCo, which ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest private fleet carriers in North America, operates 11,618 tractors. Maersk, ranking No. 5 on the TT Top 50 list of the largest global freight carriers, recently opened a 402,000-square-foot warehouse in El Paso with 73 dock doors.

Expanding the Electric Grid

Maersk’s North America Regional President, Charles van der Steene, highlighted the need for collective effort:

“To electrify trucking on a meaningful scale, all stakeholders need to invest in expanding the electric grid for charging capabilities. With our ambition to reach net zero by 2040, we’re committed to being part of collaborative efforts like these, which help move us toward our goal and allow us to offer customers a pathway toward a decarbonized alternative for trucking.”

DB Schenker, ranking No. 25 on the TT Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America, was recently acquired by DSV, creating the world’s largest freight forwarder. AIT Worldwide ranks No. 35 on the logistics list.

Strategic Partnerships

The coalition is partnering with the Smart Freight Centre, a global nonprofit focused on climate action in the freight sector. TeraWatt Infrastructure will serve as the strategic charging solutions partner, providing infrastructure at six charging hubs along the I-10 corridor.

Neha Palmer, CEO of TeraWatt, said, “This project represents more than a pilot for heavy-duty EV operations; it puts forward a concrete road map to scaling fleet electrification into a full ecosystem.”

Government Support

The I-10 corridor is part of the first phase of the U.S. government’s National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy. The Federal Highway Administration awarded the New Mexico Department of Transportation $63.8 million to build two medium- and heavy-duty truck charging corridors along I-10. TeraWatt will design, build, operate, and own these facilities.

TeraWatt broke ground on its first heavy-duty charging facility in November 2023, about 15 miles north of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. PepsiCo is already committed as a customer for last-mile delivery charging in the Los Angeles area.

PepsiCo and Tesla’s Semi

PepsiCo has been at the forefront of longhaul battery-electric truck development, notably as the primary tester of Tesla’s Class 8 Semi tractor. The truck, with a longer range than many battery-electric trucks on the market, is expected to start production in late 2025.

Tesla Semi Makes Its European Debut: Ready For The Roads — Tesla Semi Makes Its European Debut: Ready for the Roads

EVXL’s Take

This initiative is a massive step forward in the electrification of heavy-duty transport. As more companies like Microsoft, PepsiCo, and Maersk invest in sustainable logistics, we’re seeing a real shift towards a greener future. For more on Tesla’s role in this transformation, check out our recent articles on Tesla.

The bigger picture here is the collective effort to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable transportation system.

What are your thoughts on this exciting development? Leave your comments below!

Photo courtesy of Tesla Cars Only / X