FedEx expands low-emission vehicle fleet in US cities

FedEx Express is adding thousands of fuel-efficient diesel vehicles to its fleet, and is also expanding its trials using all-electric drivetrains. It is taking on more BlueTEC “clean diesel” Sprinter vans that company managers say are 100% more fuel efficient than common alternatives.

FedEx is also expanding its trial use of electric vehicles with the addition of 24 trucks over the next two months within New York City, Chicago and Memphis.

It will add 15 more Navistar eStar electric vehicles, two Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) eCell vehicles, two FCCC electric retrofits and five Ford Transit Connect Electric vans.

The addition will take its electric vehicle fleet to a total of 43.

FedEx said it is also looking to add more hybrid electric vehicles – adding 45 new FCCC-Eaton hybrid pickups in Los Angeles – and is trialling vehicles made of composite materials that mean lower weight and better fuel economy.

Dennis Beal, vice president of Global Vehicles at FedEx Express, said: “We are using efficient technologies that are readily available now, while investing in innovative technologies that we hope and believe can be vehicle workhorses for the future.”

FedEx said its new vehicles will be studied to improve the company’s understanding of new vehicle technologies, particularly regarding the use of electric vehicles with the grid, and comparing different vehicle technologies to determine which work best for the overall FedEx fleet needs.

“Different vehicles are appropriate for different routes,” explains Keshav Sondhi, manager of Asset Management for FedEx Express Global Vehicles.

“The key is to use the right truck for the mission on the right route. FedEx Express is adding all-electric and hybrid-electric vehicles to dense urban routes that have a lot of starting and stopping. This use of regenerative braking and electric motors significantly improves the efficiency of the vehicles on such urban routes.”