Domino’s ‘Electrifies Pizza Delivery’ With New Fleet of Chevy Bolt EVs

Domino’s is rolling out a fleet of Chevy Bolt electric vehicles, with 112 already on the road and 855 expected to enter service by the end of 2023 to create what it calls(Opens in a new window) the “largest electric pizza delivery fleet in the country.”

An interactive map(Opens in a new window) on the Domino’s website shows how many EVs are already delivering in each state, and how many are expected by 2023. So far, the 112 are scattered across states primarily in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Indiana has the most (33) followed by Virginia (15). Wyoming has just one lonely EV, although most states have zero as the rollout is just beginning.

(Credit: Domino’s)

Pizza deliveries have short, geographically contained routes with frequent returns to home base to charge, making them perfect for electrification. Domino’s is the nation’s largest(Opens in a new window) pizza franchise based on number of cities with locations, although Pizza Hut has more locations overall. While 855 is surely a tiny fraction of its total fleet, Domino’s plan to transition all deliveries to emissions-free vehicles could have a significant environmental impact, as well as cost savings.

“EVs provide numerous advantages, including ample battery life for days of deliveries, zero tailpipe emissions, advanced safety features and lower maintenance costs than nonelectric vehicles,” says Domino’s. The lower maintenance costs stem from the fact that EVs have less than half the mechanical parts as gas-powered vehicles. They also have no engine, which are only needed to convert gasoline to power, and no oil changes.

(Credit: Domino’s)

The Chevrolet Bolt is the obvious EV of choice, being the cheapest on the market ($25,600) with the highest range (259 miles). Domino’s plans to entice new drivers with the sophisticated vehicles, especially those who do not have a car of their own.

To manage the fleet, help with maintenance, and monitor charging levels, Domino’s is partnering with rental company Enterprise Fleet Management(Opens in a new window).

(Credit: Domino’s)

The announcement mentions that Enterprise will offer “telematics(Opens in a new window) solutions,” which means data tracking and collection. Domino’s did not say what specific data it will be collecting and monitoring, but the drivers’ whereabouts and the vehicle’s condition are two likely candidates.

Domino’s has a history of fleet innovation as it strives for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. “Today, Domino’s already delivers with electric bikes and/or scooters in 24 international markets, including the US,” the company says. The company has also experimented with delivery via autonomous robots.

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The move to EV deliveries comes as other companies begin electrifying their fleets as well, such as Amazon and FedEx. Even school buses have started down a path towards battery power, as their short, predictable routes at specific times makes charging easy to manage.