FedEx puts 2 million miles on hybrid trucks, adds 75 more

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According to FedEx, its hybrid delivery vehicles have saved approximately 83,000 gallons of fuel and eliminated 950 tons of greenhouse gas emissions while racking up an impressive 2 million miles overall. Because of this success, the global delivery giant will be adding 75 new hybrid vehicles to its fleet, making for a total of 172 hybrid vehicles. The hybrid trucks used by FedEx are said to improve fuel economy by 42 percent, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 30 percent and cut particulate pollution by 96 percent.

FedEx uses hybrid technology from Eaton, Isuzu, Iveco and Azure Dynamics with Ford engines and chassis. That's a lot of different systems for one company. Mitch Jackson, director of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability at FedEx, calls for "truck manufacturing industry to create its version of the Prius: clean, affordable and widely available for truck fleets."

FedEx also plans to test Class 6 vehicles using hybrid hydraulic technology from Parker Hannifin Corporation and replace some of their air fleet with more efficient Boeing 757 planes. All of these changes will result in less fuel consumption, helping FedEx's bottom line and, more importantly, reduce harmful emissions.

Press Release:

FedEx Hybrid-Electric Fleet Surpasses Two-Million-Mile Mark

Monday April 28, 9:00 am ET
Industry Leader Adds Another 75 Clean-Technology Vans in the United States and Europe

MEMPHIS, Tenn. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX - News) today announced a major milestone for its existing hybrid-electric truck fleet: more than two million miles of revenue service.

The hybrid trucks improve fuel economy by 42 percent, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 30 percent and cut particulate pollution by 96 percent.

FedEx is also expanding its commitment to clean-vehicle technology by placing an additional 75 hybrid vehicles into service in the United States and Europe.

FedEx will now operate more than 170 hybrid vehicles around the globe, including the largest fleet of commercial hybrid trucks in North America, which comprise nearly one-third of the deployed North American hybrid market.

First in its industry to introduce hybrid vans into its fleet, FedEx now works with a diverse group of manufacturers, including Eaton Corporation, Isuzu and Iveco. FedEx will also purchase 20 vehicles that use an Azure Dynamics hybrid system and Ford gasoline engine and chassis, representing one of the first gasoline hybrid-electric delivery trucks in commercial use.

"Two million miles of FedEx service is a significant milestone for hybrid vehicles," said Mitch Jackson, director of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corp. "FedEx continues to work to advance clean truck technology. We now need the collective leadership of business, nonprofits and government to make cleaner delivery vehicle technology widely available. It's time for the truck manufacturing industry to create its version of the Prius: clean, affordable and widely available for truck fleets."

John Formisano, vice president of Global Vehicles, FedEx Express, said, "FedEx has been very happy with the operational and environmental performance of the FedEx hybrids. We continue to look for opportunities to introduce more fuel-efficient vehicle models, including hybrids, into our fleet."

Today's developments are the latest steps in the ongoing efforts by FedEx and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to support the clean-technology truck market, which has grown to include more than 30 fleets in North America.

"FedEx leadership has helped to make hybrid truck technology a reality," said Gwen Ruta, vice president for Corporate Partnerships, EDF. "There is tremendous momentum in the hybrid truck market today, with more trucks on the road and more companies buying hybrids every day. The FedEx and EDF collaboration jump-started this market transformation. We demonstrated that the trucks work in the real world and that they can slash both greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs."

In 2000, FedEx and EDF began working together to develop the next generation delivery vehicle. Three years later, the two organizations worked with Eaton Corporation and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation to introduce the first available commercial hybrid delivery truck into service. The project has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency, Harvard University and WestSTART-CALSTART for its role in spurring hybrid truck advancements.

Throughout this time, FedEx and EDF have worked together to encourage more companies to purchase and develop clean-technology trucks. FedEx and EDF have also been advocates for additional government incentives at the national, state and local levels to offset the higher capital costs of cleaner vehicles while the market is developing.

FedEx is the only transportation company to publicly call for fuel efficiency standards for commercial medium and heavy duty truck classes that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce fuel consumption. The company has also championed the need for a small, fuel efficient engine for application in hybrid vehicles following the 2007 EPA federal engine standard.

New Markets, New Technologies

The additional 75 hybrid vehicles will expand the FedEx hybrid fleet into new markets and leverage new technologies.

* Twenty FedEx hybrids using Azure Dynamics hybrid technology and a Ford E-450 chassis and gasoline engine will be placed into service in Los Angeles (15 vehicles) and Sacramento (five vehicles).
* Ten Iveco hybrid-electric "Daily-model" vans with Iveco diesel engines and hybrid systems will begin to deliver packages on routes in Europe.
* Forty-five FedEx hybrid-electric vans with the Eaton Corporation hybrid system will be stationed in New York City.

The FedEx fleet will include 172 hybrid delivery vehicles on delivery routes around the globe:

North America (All are diesel hybrid-electric, except Los Angeles and Sacramento, Calif.):

* Ann Arbor, Mich.: One hybrid-electric vehicle
* Chicago, Ill.: Two hybrid-electric vehicles
* Denver, Colo.: Four hybrid-electric vehicles
* Los Angeles, Calif.: 15 gas hybrid-electric vehicles
* Memphis, Tenn.: Two hybrid-electric vehicles
* New York City, N.Y.: 93 hybrid-electric vehicles
* Portland, Ore.: 15 hybrid-electric vehicles
* San Francisco, Calif.: Five hybrid-electric vehicles
* Sacramento, Calif.: Nine hybrid-electric vehicles, including five gas hybrid-electrics
* Tampa, Fla.: Four hybrid-electric vehicles
* Washington D.C.: Three hybrid-electric vehicles
* Toronto, Ontario: Five hybrid-electric vehicles

International:

* Tokyo, Japan: Four Isuzu hybrid-electric vehicles in service, two since 2006
* Europe: Ten Iveco, Daily hybrid-electric vans

FedEx Ground has also announced plans to test a hybrid hydraulic technology with Parker Hannifin Corporation on a heavier-class vehicle (Class 6).

Fleet Efficiencies on the Ground and in the Air

FedEx is continuously seeking efficiency options in its vehicle and aircraft fleets that can lessen its environmental impact and save energy. To date, the FedEx hybrid-electric vehicles have saved approximately 83,000 gallons of fuel and eliminated 950 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

During the past five years, FedEx has worked to optimize our delivery routes to ensure that the most efficient sized vehicle is in use on each route. As a result of these efforts, more than one-fourth of the FedEx fleet has been converted to smaller more fuel efficient vehicles, saving more than 50 million gallons of fuel.

FedEx is also beginning an upgrade to its air fleet by replacing narrow-body aircraft with Boeing 757 planes that lessen the environmental impact-reducing fuel consumption up to 36 percent while providing 20 percent more capacity. The company will also acquire Boeing 777 aircraft that provide greater payload capacity and use 18 percent less fuel than planes in its current international fleet. These replacements will also significantly reduce carbon emissions.

[Source: FedEx]