FedEx and UPS continue efforts to cut transport emissions
FedEx and UPS have taken further steps to improve the environmental credentials of their operations in the US. FedEx Express has ordered five more electric vehicles in the form of Transit Connect Electric vans from Michigan-based vehicle conversion specialist Azure Dynamics.
The vehicle supplier said they would help FedEx towards its goal of reducing environmental impacts of its day-to-day operations.
UPS has installed a system to allow it to use renewable biofuels within its ground transport fleet and operations at its Worldport hub in Louisville, Kentucky.
It is also seeking to reduce the environmental impact of its operations, at a facility processing 416,000 packages an hour.
UPS
UPS has installed a 30,000-gallon biodiesel fuel tank and fueling station at the hub to allow fueling operators to blend biodiesel into diesel supplies “on the fly”, from 5% up to 20% proportions.
Biodiesel can be used in diesel engines without modifications up to a 20% volume of biodiesel (known as B20). The Worldport fuel station refuels nearly 200 vehicles and diesel equipment to help load packages on and off planes.
Scott Wicker, UPS Chief Sustainability officer, said the project would help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, cut air pollution and carbon emissions.
He said: “There is a finite amount of petroleum-based fuel available from our planet so it is important that UPS and other companies invest in ways to use alternative fuels and technologies, including biodiesel.”
The biodiesel industry group National Biodiesel Board called the switch to biodiesel at UPS Worldport “monumental” for the industry.
“For a giant like UPS to use biodiesel is not only an outstanding vote of confidence for biodiesel, but an example of how America’s first advanced biofuel will fuel the drive towards genuine corporate sustainability,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board.
FedEx
FedEx Express ordered its new electric vans through a dealership in New Jersey. The light commercial vehicles have a range of about 50 to 80 miles on a single charge.
Conversion firm Azure Dynamics has previously supplied vehicles for FedEx, as well as other companies in the delivery field. It is currently providing vehicles for DHL’s fleet in New York.
The company said its customers were testing out the vehicles before taking a decision over a wider roll-out of electric drivetrain technology.
Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO, said: “Some major vehicle fleets like Azure customers FedEx, Canada Post and Post Norway are employing specific quantities of Transit Connect Electric vans to gain operational experience with the technology in advance of expected increased deployment.”
FedEx founder and CEO Frederick W Smith is a major advocate of electric vehicle technology, and has long lobbied Congress to support the technology in order to drive down costs and help it become mainstream in the motoring world.
As of this spring, FedEx had 19 all-electric vehicles in its 70,000-strong fleet as well as 300 hybrid vehicles.
Writing in the Financial Times earlier this month, Smith said electrifying transport was the best way to “end the threat” from oil price rises.
“Only electricity can give the transport sector the flexibility to switch fuels when one or more become too expensive. Electricity from homegrown sources,” said Smith, who is part of the Electrification Coalition lobby group, which is pushing a plan to deploy electric vehicles throughout the US.
