This beloved Fresno dairy is going all electric with its vehicles

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A Fresno-based dairy is celebrating a first-in-the-industry move. California Dairies, Inc. announced on Thursday the launch of the first all-electric vehicle and transport refrigeration system.

“We’re doing it in a way that reduces our carbon emissions – without really sacrificing on quality,” California Dairies’ Michael Burdeny said.

Burdeny was joined by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and other local leaders to reveal a new fleet of electric vehicles.

“We’re rolling out the very first 100% diesel-free EV food delivery truck for the dairy industry,” Burdeny said.

Gibbs Truck Centers also played a role in bringing these trucks to life. Two zero-emission trucks will be headed to Challenge Dairy, with a third added later this year.

“This vehicle here has a 210-kilowatt system, six battery packs, lithium-ion batteries and 1,700 foot-pounds of torque. This is the very first combination of an electric refrigerated unit and an electric powered truck in all of the dairy industry,” Gibbs Truck Centers President and Owner Ed Gibbs said.

The trucks will run between 70 and 140 miles per charge. The new technology even impressed Mayor Jerry Dyer.

“I know that this is only the beginning and we’re going to see these electric fleets continue to grow and grow through Fresno,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

Mayor Dyer also looks forward to the positive impact these EV trucks will have on the environment.

“We generate our own pollution, but we get our fair share of pollution coming in from San Francisco. It makes its way into the valley and it kind of stays here and it’s difficult. So anything that we can do to improve our air quality is critical,” Mayor Dyer said.

Burdeny said he wants his eco-friendly ventures to translate into quality dairy products.

“We’re looking at ways of reducing our environmental footprint. And definitely, sustainability to a lot of our members is something that really goes hand in hand with product quality,” Burdeny said.

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