Inside PepsiCo's Adoption of Tesla Semi Electric Trucks [Video]

Pepsi gives us a closer look at their Tesla Semi

Pepsi

PepsiCo's collaboration with Tesla's Semi electric trucks has marked a new era in the world of heavy transportation. Through a recent 12-minute video produced by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), the soft-drink giant provides us with a look into the fleet's operation.

Sustainability Targets: Meeting and Exceeding Goals

PepsiCo's Sacramento facility houses 21 Tesla Semis in a bold step towards sustainability. These electric trucks have become crucial to achieving PepsiCo's sustainability targets, offering an efficiency of 1.7 kWh per mile, leading to a 23% fuel cost reduction. The combination of short-range runs and dedicated long-haul routes highlights the truck's versatility.

The Sacramento facility is backed by four 750 kW DC chargers, allowing Semis to charge from 10% to 90% in 20-30 minutes. This massive charging power supports daily operations and paves the way for future electrified depots.

Beyond Numbers: The Real-World Impact

The NACFE video features several drivers who laud the Tesla Semi for better visibility, comfort, and less tiring experience. Such firsthand insights emphasize the Semi's ergonomic design and the successful transition from traditional internal combustion engine trucks.

But the collaboration between Tesla and PepsiCo goes beyond figures. Amanda DeVoe, PepsiCo's Transformation and Strategy Director, speaks of how essential battery electric vehicles are for PepsiCo's business model. The regenerative braking system, the comfortable interior, and the quick charging contribute to practical and sustainable logistics.

Pepsi Tesla Semi Video

A Glimpse of the Future: Paving the Way for Clean Transportation

The relationship between Tesla and PepsiCo isn't just about two companies. It's a symbol of the broader transformation in the trucking industry. The partnership provides a blueprint for others, reflecting a commitment to cleaner heavy haulage, renewable energy, and technological innovation.

PepsiCo's usage of Tesla Semi electric trucks offers a promising glimpse into the future of logistics and environmental responsibility. The insights shared in the NACFE video paint a picture of a future where innovation and sustainability go hand-in-hand.

As Charles Burton, the head of fleet operations in the western region for PepsiCo Beverages, stated, "This is going to revolutionize how the trucking industry goes to market in the future." The Tesla and PepsiCo partnership is a path forward for the entire transportation industry.

The success of this partnership sets a precedent with lessons that could be replicated across the industry. It not only showcases how two industry giants can work together to meet today's challenges but also how they can lay the groundwork for tomorrow's solutions.

Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

Not a Tesla App

For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.

Price Increase

The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.

The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series. 

The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.

Free Lifetime Supercharging

For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.

There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.

We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.

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Tesla’s Optimus Robot Learns to Walk Without Vision [VIDEO]

Optimus Falls - but catches itself!

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Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.

Daily walks help clear your mind pic.twitter.com/dUsW58trS6

— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) December 9, 2024

A Look Behind the Curtain

Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.

Optimus is Blind

Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer. 

Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.

Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips. 

What’s Next?

Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.

Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.

There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.

We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.

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