Budweiser orders 40 Tesla Semi trucks to reduce operational emissions

Mega-brewer Anheuser-Busch, best known for its beer brand Budweiser, has placed an order of 40 Tesla Semi Trucks to further its mission to reduce operational carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2025.

To this end, the company has pledged to employ cutting-edge technology to not only reduce environmental impact but also to increase efficiency and cut the costs of its operations.

The 40 Semi-trucks to be integrated into the brewer’s distribution network will be fully electric-powered and will also be equipped with autonomous driving capabilities.

The news is not only important for the environment, but for Tesla too as the order represents one of the largest to be reported by the company after the new model’s launch last month.

         

                                                                 Image Source: Tesla

When Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, presented the new electric Semi trucks it pledged it will have a range of 500-miles on a single charge. However, Anheuser-Busch said that initially the trucks will be used for shipments within 150 to 200 miles of its brewery locations.

James Sembrot, Senior Director of Logistics Strategy, said: “At Anheuser-Busch, we are constantly seeking new ways to make our supply chain more sustainable, efficient and innovative”.

“This investment in Tesla Semi-trucks helps achieve these goals while improving road safety and lowering our environmental impact”.

Anheuser-Busch is also working with Nikola Motors, an American hybrid truck design company, to develop and implement hydrogen-powered engines within its distribution network.

“We can’t wait to get these trucks on the road and keep leading our industry forward to a greener, smarter future in partnership with some of the world’s most innovative companies. The transportation industry is evolving fast, and we’re really excited to play a leadership role in driving this evolution by integrating these new technologies across our network”.

In addition to the company’s shift to a more sustainable transport system, Anheuser-Busch has embarked on an inclusive sustainability transition within its operations.

Over the last 10 years, it has reduced its water consumption at its 21 breweries by approximately 50 percent, and recently it announced  plans to power all of its facilities with 100 percent renewable energy.

Elon Musk has said that the new Tesla Semi truck will not be ready for production earlier than 2019.