Together with PepsiCo’s Walkers brand, Einride said its electric and digital offerings will cover more than 750,000 miles previously powered by fossil fuels, reducing the equivalent of over 1,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions over three years.
Einride’s freight mobility grid will start in the Midlands and unfold along the UK’s busiest motorways, connecting London, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.
“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,” said Robert Falck, Founder and CEO of Einride.
“We’re honoured to be here, teaming up with local partners to further establish the UK as a transport pioneer and help the country meet its net zero goals,” he added.
Archana Jagannathan, Head of Sustainability, 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.”
The Einride Saga platform will oversee Einride's freight ecosystem in the UK, which is designed to simplify long-distance freight management and eliminate industry inefficiencies. This is achieved through a grid system that facilitates smart handovers, ensuring goods are not delayed due to battery recharges or driver changes. Einride is responsible for managing all logistical touchpoints, including software, charging infrastructure, and maintenance services.
To expand further in the UK and Ireland, Einride plans to establish a network of partners that will enable the scaling of the grid and increase emission savings. As transportation volumes reach a critical mass, algorithmic optimisation provided by Einride Saga and the introduction of human-led autonomous technologies such as Einride's cabless trucks will further support grid expansion.
The launch of this UK expansion follows Einride's 2022 expansion into Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway. Einride is one of leading operators of heavy-duty electric freight in Sweden and the US, providing fleets for industry giants such as Maersk, AB InBev and Lidl.
According to Einride, partners who have electrified their road freight have seen up to a 95% decrease in CO2 emissions while remaining cost-competitive.
Founded in 2016, Einride says it was the first company in the world to deploy an autonomous, electric vehicle on a public road in 2019 and the first company to receive approval to operate the vehicle on a US public road in 2022.