Walmart Canada has reportedly ordered more Tesla semi-trucks to reduce diesel consumption, as it plans to have its entire fleet powered by sustainable energy by 2028. The U.S. based retail giant will be buying 30 of Tesla’s 18-wheeler semis for its Canadian subsidiary, in addition to the 10 ordered last November.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the additional trucks, which could potentially switch to autonomous operations, will help Walmart Canada to achieve its initial target of electrifying 20 percent of its fleet by 2022. The first 20 semi-trucks are to be used out of Mississauga, Ontario, the sources confirmed.
Further, the remaining 20 Tesla Semis would operate from Walmart’s distribution center situated in Surrey, B.C. which is scheduled to open in 2022, and will become the company’s first fully-electric fleet worldwide. The delivery dates for the trucks spanning over the coming five years have not yet been finalized.
Senior vice president for logistics and supply chain at the company, John Bayliss, stated Walmart is continuously seeking innovative ways to minimize its carbon footprint and environmental impact, leading the industry’s attempt for sustainable change. Walmart Canada, for the record, operates 410 stores in the country and serves over 1.2 million customers daily.
Apparently, Walmart Canada is to have one of the country’s largest Tesla Semi fleets, while other firms that have ordered the trucks include Fortigo Freight, the trucking company from Toronto, and Loblaw Companies Ltd. Tesla has claimed that its semi-trucks offer an improved experience for truck drivers, with increased safety and significant reduction in costs associated with cargo transport.
According to Tesla, the Semis have a range of nearly 800 kilometers and at highway speeds consume less than two kilowatt-hours of energy per mile. Sources mentioned that the travel per charge of Tesla Semis is in line with Walmart’s existing fleet, which primarily consists of single-day round trips, and will allow the company to easily convert from diesel to electric.