FedEx to replace 2,000 diesel trucks with electric ones, saving 1.7 million tons of CO2 emissions
Delivery using electric trucks or vans is not exclusive to Amazon and Tesla—far from it. While China projects that 100,000 trucks equipped with batteries and autonomous driving systems will be on the road by 2030, a similar trend is emerging in the logistics sectors of Europe and the United States.
Indeed, when considering another transport giant like FedEx—widely regarded as the world's largest express transport company, distinct from the logistics giant Amazon—the company has announced plans to save $800 million (equivalent to €710,500,000) on diesel costs over the next 20 years. To achieve this, it has decided to add 2,000 new electric trucks to its fleet in the United States and Canada, replacing an equal number of diesel trucks.
€710,500,000 represents significant savings on diesel.
The manufacturer commissioned by FedEx for these 2,000 electric trucks—or, more precisely, electric vans—is Harbinger, a California-based company specializing in the production of electric and plug-in hybrid delivery vans and trucks.
These vehicles come in a variety of sizes, with wheelbases reaching up to 5.28 meters, surpassing the electric vans manufactured by Rivian for Amazon. All vehicles are equipped with a 440 hp electric motor and a modular battery pack that provides a range of up to 210 miles (338 km). Furthermore, these batteries can be recharged from 20% to 80% in less than an hour using a fast charger.
Sporting an aesthetic similar to that of traditional US delivery trucks, the transport company FedEx purchased a number of these electric trucks from Harbinger last year. However, it has now decided to order a significantly larger quantity—specifically 2,000 units—which the North American manufacturer will deliver in full over the next 18 months.
According to Harbinger, the acquisition of these 2,000 electric trucks will result in diesel fuel savings of $800 million for the transport corporation, equivalent to €710,500,000 at current exchange rates.
However, it is important to note that this figure of €710,500,000 represents the total diesel savings for the fleet of 2,000 trucks. As previously mentioned, the deployment of these new electric trucks is projected to generate annual fuel savings of $40 million (equivalent to €35,530,000).
In addition to diesel savings, there is another significant environmental benefit. FedEx's acquisition of 2,000 new electric trucks or vans represents a major investment in sustainable infrastructure. These vehicles will not only reduce CO2 emissions by more than 1.7 million tons over the next 20 years but also reinforce the company's commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility.
