Anheuser Busch InBev : Ambev closes out their partnership with the startup FNM for the production of a thousand electric vehicles

Partnership with the Brazilian startup FNM and Agrale is one more step taken by Ambev in the direction of having their partner distribution fleet powered by clean energy and contributing towards their commitmentto reduce their CO2 emissions

January 2021 - Even faced with an uncertain scenario in the automobilism sector, with companies leaving the Brazilian market, Ambev has formed a partnership with the startup FNM (Fábrica Nacional de Mobilidades) for the development of one thousand electric vehicles, trucks and vans, all of which should be on the roads by the end of 2023 delivering the beverages made by Ambev.

FNM, also known as FêNêMê, was one of the finalists in the first edition of the Ambev Aceleratora 100+ program in 2019 with this project. Ever since then, the companies have been working together on innovations and state-of-the-art technologies aimed at delivering sustainable and efficient solutions both for Ambev's own logistics program, which could also be used for other local and international clients.

To this end, FNM entered into a pioneer contract of technical and industrial cooperation with Agrale, the only 100% Brazilian vehicle manufacturer, who have been on the Brazilian and international market for almost 60 years and, together with Ambev, have potentialized investments in clean technologies for trucks and other vehicles.

'It makes us all very proud to see the project of a Brazilian startup get off the ground. The innovation that appeared here in Brazil, the fruit of a number of collaborations and partnerships and that ended up with a vehicle with state-of-the-art technology that now could be exported to other countries and other interested companies', said Rodrigo Figueiredo, Ambev's Vice-President of Sustainability and Procurement.

Each one of the model FNM 833 electric trucks will represent a reduction of 126 thousand kilos of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere per year. The pilot vehicle will make deliveries in the city of Rio of Janeiro and will be able to cover up to 100 km between recharges. Using a 'Wallbox with a CCS2 outlet' the trucks can be fully recharged in up to four hours. The Wallbox is connected up to a 380 Volt charging system right inside the Ambev distribution centers, which are located all over Brazil and that already operate with solar power. After being tested in the FNM factory, located at the Agrale works in Caxias do Sul (RS), the trucks will be released for deliveries.

'In order to deliver this service, we prepared a preliminary study to define the needs of each client, in this case Ambev, always allying productivity with reduced costs - in a business model based on pre-sales contracts, with an open schedule and payment up front', says Ricardo Machado, CEO of Obvio! + FNM.

Furthermore, the FNM truck is 100% connected to the Ambev IT systems, which deliver real-time information on the route and the performance for the company's monitoring area, together with information on the traffic, routes and specific characteristics of the various clients. The vehicle is also equipped with new technologies that are focused on safety, including an anti-collision system with artificial intelligence and integrated cameras.

'In 2019, when we signed the innovative partnership agreement with FNM, we united our experience in the production of trucks with FNM's state-of-the-art electrical traction technology, with integrated IT. With this, we are commemorating this partnership with the announcement of the production of the 'pre-series' of the 18-ton FNM 833 trucks for Ambev', affirms Hugo Zattera, President of Agrale.

This union means that Ambev will have already contracted one half of the fleet of trucks to be powered by clean energy and, consequently, with zero carbon emissions, by 2023. This is one more initiative to reduce the emission of CO2 by 25% throughout their whole production and delivery chain by 2025, a commitment that was assumed by the company in 2018 and that counts with a number of other initiatives that are fully described here: https://www.ambev.with.br/sustentability/ations-climaticas/.

The innovation behind the trucks

The production of the FNM trucks uses state-of-the-art technology, such as the Danfoss Editern high performance engines, that are fitted with the standard AVIONICS digital controller / invertor for the intelligent management of all the vehicle's operations. This engine weighs only 85 kg, as against the 500 kg of other electric engines on the market.

The Octillion Power Systems modular, high energy density batteries are cooled by chilled water. Furthermore, at the end of their 10-year service life in the trucks, the battery modules do not need to be dumped, since they still could be used for other purposes, such as for accumulators for photovoltaic systems.

Another special feature is based on the innovative participation of Randon Implementos, since the FNM trucks leave the factory with the cargo compartment already installed, each one developed for the specific needs of each client, in this way guaranteeing the best logistics performance solution.