First Tesla Semi deliveries subsidized by California state grant for Pepsi

The Californian taxpayer has fronted half of the US$30.8 million Pepsi Modesto factory zero-emission retooling project costs. Coincidentally, the first Tesla Semi trucks that are about to be delivered to a commercial client on December 1, are going to Pepsi in Modesto. Pepsi apparently added the Tesla Semis to the CARB-sponsored (California Air Resources Board) greenifying project last, right after it became clear that the Inflation Reduction Act subsidies for commercial electric vehicles will be up to US$40,000 per truck.

CARB's 50% subsidy for the Modesto factory overhaul costs was disbursed in 2018, aiming to help Pepsi swap diesel trucks with zero-emission ones and make it go solar, too. Before Tesla Semis were added to the grant mix, the project included other EVs like three electric yard rigs from Tesla's largest competitor BYD and six Peterbilt electric trucks, as well as 12 battery-powered forklifts. The Modesto factory is also where the first commercial Megacharger for the Tesla Semi truck is being built, and Pepsi plans to hold a grand unveiling of all the modernizations on January 18, where perhaps the Megacharger will be demonstrated as well.

Tesla, however, is delivering the Pepsi Semis on December 1, and has scheduled a launch event for the occasion on the premises of its Reno factory in Nevada, inviting shareholders and investors to participate in the grand "future of trucking" event. Elon Musk recently boasted about the first full-load long-haul trip of a Tesla Semi which covered 500 miles on a charge with the 81,000 lbs of combined truck and cargo weight it is capable of carrying.

In any case, the delivery of the first Tesla Semi truck that was announced way back in 2017 seems to have been spearheaded by the new federal EV subsidies, while half of the batch that will go to Pepsi tomorrow, has been paid for by California's green grants.

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