Walmart gears up to achieve zero emissions by 2040

Walmart is making a commitment to transform its transportation fleet.

6/13/2022

Walmart is walking the talk when it comes to reaching its goal of a zero-emissions future, as evidenced by a number of initiatives that it is embarking on.

"As the world’s largest retailer, with a world-class transportation network, we have the ability to make a meaningful difference when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why in 2020, we set the goal to achieve zero emissions across Walmart's global operations by 2040," said Fernando Cortes, senior vice president of transportation, in a post on the retailer's website.

"This includes our last mile delivery fleet, an area that is uniquely positioned for innovative solutions," he said. "You’ve seen us be among the first to use 100% electric self-driving cars and class 3 trucks, electric delivery vans and even drones. But there’s another fleet we’re committed to transforming, one that will have an even bigger impact on achieving our zero emissions goal: our Class 8 transportation fleet."

Cortes acknowledged that transforming its transportation fleet is not as simple as flipping a switch, but he said, "that doesn’t mean we’re sitting idle. Today I’m excited to share more about our zero-emissions transportation strategy and announce a series of collaborations and pilots. Many of these initiatives are first of their kind for Walmart and will be pivotal in moving us towards a zero-emissions future while being instructive to the entire transportation industry."

Pointing out that Walmart operates one of the largest and safest fleets in the United States, with 12,000 drivers, 10,000 tractors and 80,000 trailers driving 1.1 billion miles every year, Cortes said, "With a fleet of this scale, it made up approximately 24% of our scope 1 emissions in 2020."

Cortes continued: "To make a meaningful impact, we’re taking a meaningful approach by evaluating various attributes of three different fuel types — renewable natural gas, hydrogen and electric. We’re piloting solutions not only for our over-the-road trucks but for refrigerated trailers (also known as reefers) and yard trucks (which move trailers around in the lots), too. Here is how we are layering solutions to determine the best recipe for building a Walmart that is regenerative in action."

"As we transition away from diesel and move towards a lower emissions fleet, we plan to deploy and evaluate vehicles powered by compressed natural gas," he said. "Natural gas engines have a comparable range to diesel engines of around 700 miles — which makes them a great potential fit for our sleeper cabs — and can produce tangible emissions benefits that compound whenever powered by renewable natural gas or RNG-linked fuel."

Noting that renewable natural gas is produced by capturing biomethane of decomposing matter and treating it to generate fuel, he said: "Uncaptured biomethane has up to 25 times the ability to trap heat in the atmosphere compared to CO2, but by capturing it from sources like dairy manure or food waste, studies suggest that renewable natural gas can avoid more emissions than it generates."

Starting early next year, the retailer will be the first transportation company to receive Cummins' new 15-liter natural gas engine and will be adding them to a few of its trucks. This brand-new engine is expected to deliver the same power and torque of a 15-liter diesel engine, but with significantly lower emissions, lighter weight and overall lower cost per mile than its diesel counterpart. "And to maximize the potential emissions benefits of utilizing this technology, we have secured agreements with Chevron to supply Walmart trucks with CNG linked to renewable natural gas," Cortes said.

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"With so many major players in the industry working together to find a solution, we are optimistic we can drive meaningful growth in the market with critical lessons to come from this pilot," he said.

"While the use of hydrogen is still in early development, we’re excited to be among the first to adopt it in our fleet. In fact, we’re already transporting liquid hydrogen to fuel many of our forklifts across our grocery distribution centers," Cortes said. "The advantage of hydrogen is that, compared to battery-electric, it has a higher range of around 400 miles, takes significantly less time to refuel and weighs less, allowing us to haul more freight. The downside? Right now, it's expensive, and we know our customers look to us to keep prices low."

In just a few months, Walmart will be the first company in the United States to test the capabilities and performance of Capacity’s very first second-generation hydrogen fuel cell yard truck. The truck is manufactured by Capacity in Longview, Texas, and has a range of expected benefits, including an operating time of up to 10 hours on a single refuel, faster refuel time and less dependence on the electric charging grid. "Plus, we can utilize the same infrastructure as our hydrogen forklifts while producing little to no emissions, Cortes noted, adding: "In fact, it’s because of these benefits that we see hydrogen as an option for our long-haul over the road tractors — will have more to share on that soon."

Finally, as electric vehicles become more mainstream, Cortes said the retailer has been exploring where they fit into Walmart’s fleet. "Given the current weight and range capabilities of electric-battery trucks, they’re an attractive solution for yard operations, lighter weight hauls and day deliveries of around 200 miles – all of which play important roles in our operations," Cortes said.

"We’ve been running zero emissions electric yard trucks, similar to Autocar’s all-electric terminal tractor, in our distribution centers over the last year and have found they provide approximately a 50% emissions reduction compared to diesel trucks, taking into account how the electricity is created and delivered to power these units," he said. "Our goal is to continue working to pair these trucks with renewable energy like wind, solar or hydro powers, so we can achieve a true 100% emission reduction."

Cortes also foresees an opportunity to power its refrigerated trailers with electric energy. "As the world’s largest grocer, we use 10,000 of these refrigerated trailers to safely distribute fresh and cold groceries to stores. Today, they rely on diesel fuel to keep them cold, which contributes to our overall CO2 emissions," he said, noting that to change this, Walmart recently worked with Thermo King to haul Walmart’s first-ever refrigerated trailer operated on battery electricity in the United States. The trailer is designed to run on 100% electricity until the batteries are fully depleted. If the electricity is depleted mid-haul, the refrigeration unit cuts over to diesel.

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During the two-month trial, Walmart ran 18 routes hauling groceries between its distribution center in Shafter, Calif., and stores in the surrounding areas. "We’re pleased to share that throughout the entirety of the pilot, the trailer ran on electricity 83% of the time," he said.

"We can’t talk electric without talking over the road, specifically our day cabs. Later this summer, we aim to run a battery-electric day cab proof of concept with Freightliner’s eCascadia and Nikola’s Tre BEV out of a distribution center in Fontana, Calif., he said. "These electric day cabs will be picking up loads from suppliers and delivering them to a consolidation center in the area. Short-range deliveries such as these are a great use case for electric trucks, and we’re excited to be among the first to test them in our operations."

Cortes concluded that as he looks to the future, he's confident "that when you see a Walmart truck driving down the highway, you’ll be able to physically see us in action creating a better future for all of us — our children, our grandchildren and our planet."

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