Sysco, Genentech and Amazon are relatively early movers in fleet electrification, and insiders in those efforts said buy-in from corporate leadership was essential in making that happen. Yet even supported by the C-suite and aggressive company-wide targets to decarbonize transportation, the people in charge of transforming big fleets are generally embarking on a new journey that lacks a road map.
Several professionals leading fleet electrification initiatives for these companies recently outlined ways their counterparts at other organizations can start or accelerate their own strategies. Their remarks came during interviews at Electrify 23, a virtual event presented by GreenBiz on Aug. 10.
1. Support fleet managers and mechanics
As your company braces for sweeping changes to its fleet operations, step into the shoes of the professionals executing the work, urged Jania Fox, electrification manager at biotechnology company Genentech, which is managing four initiatives supporting its goal of zero transportation emissions by 2030. These include converting a fleet of 1,600 field sales vehicles to electricity, which is 25 percent complete, she said. In addition, the company has a 110-vehicle site fleet including passenger vans and delivery trucks; more than 70 motor coaches and eight shuttles for its South San Francisco campus; and some 1,000 employee-owned EVs, for which it provides home-based chargers.
"Fleet managers are already really busy, but when you just dump figuring out electrification on top of what they're already doing, it’s a lot," Fox said, adding that dedicated personnel should help support them, which is part of her job. "So many new systems and tools and devices that need to be layered on top of the existing systems."
Stephane Fosso, director of fleet technology and electrification at Sysco, advocated for anticipating the needs of the mechanics handling the predictive and corrective maintenance of the vehicles, equipment and infrastructure. Early planning at what he called the "Amazon of the food industry" involved company leadership along with the construction and fleet electrification teams, with "all the bolts and nuts all working together," he said.
Sysco’s science-based climate goal for 2030 of reducing global direct emissions by 27.5 percent includes electrifying 35 percent of its fleet, which comprises semi-trucks — 2,800 targeted for conversion in the U.S. — as well as refrigerated box trucks and trailers.
2. Gather on-the-road experience
Amazon seeks to roll out 100,000 custom electric vans by 2030, supporting its net-zero carbon goal by 2040. So far, 5,000 electric vans, scratch-built with partner Rivian, deliver goods across the United States.
Tom Chempananical, director of Amazon's global last-mile fleet, said that if he were to start over today, he would gather as much real-world, on-the road experience as possible because simulations can only go so far.
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