Nestlé Purina PetCare, in collaboration with The Kenan Advantage Group Inc. (KAG) and Nikola Corporation, has undertaken its first zero-tailpipe-emission delivery with the use of a hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck.
On its inaugural journey this week, the truck is transporting Purina products, including Tidy Cats cat litter, between three California cities: Stockton, Maricopa and Modesto. This represents a small part of Purina’s overall strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are continuously identifying new opportunities within our business and through partnerships to help us meet our sustainability goals,” says Travis Krous, Purina senior director of Supply Chain Operations. “This truck represents an exciting opportunity to test new technology and determine if it’s feasible to scale.”
Purina’s manufacturing strategy promotes regional production and distribution, minimizing the number of long-distance trucks on the road. KAG will deliver Purina products using the Class 8 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck, which has a maximum range of up to 500 miles and can be refueled in 20 minutes or less — all while producing zero tailpipe emissions while driving. According to Nikola, one truck avoids 97 metric tons of CO2 tailpipe emissions per year on average. That is the equivalent of taking 23 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.
“We’re excited to transport products on our first hydrogen fuel cell truck while helping our valued customer and partner, Purina, drive its sustainability goals forward,” adds Tyler Coventry, executive vice president of KAG Food Products. “We’re committed to implementing more sustainable practices within the supply chain by optimizing the use of energy-efficient technologies.”
For more information about Purina’s sustainability initiatives, visit Purina.com/About/Sustainability.
