FedEx is joining other delivery companies in an effort to go all electric.
Key Details
- FedEx is attempting to be completely carbon neutral by 2040.
- One of the first steps in the company’s efforts to go green is by introducing electric vehicles (EVs) into its massive delivery fleet.
- The three steps, according to the FedEx website are…
- By 2025: 50% of parcel pickup and delivery vehicle purchases intended to be electric
- By 2030: 100% of parcel pickup and delivery vehicle purchases intended to be electric
- By 2040: Entire parcel pickup and delivery fleet intended to be converted to electric vehicles
- The process of going green isn’t as easy as it looks—not only does the company have to purchase the vehicles, but it must provide the necessary infrastructure to sustain them.
Why it’s important
EVs are the future. Not only for commercial use, but for personal use as well.
The number of people wanting electric vehicles (EV) has hit a worldwide tipping point, as more than half of car buyers worldwide want an EV.
The latest EY Mobility Consumer Index shows that 52% of people looking to buy a car want to buy an EV. This is the first time the number has exceeded 50%, representing a rise of 11 percentage points since last year.
Not only are people jumping on the EV bandwagon—so are businesses. Many companies are slowly making the switch to EVs in an effort to be green.
One of those companies specifically is FedEx. The company has begun a mission to be completely carbon neutral by 2040 and has established three steps to get there.
FedEx isn’t stopping there—it has also introduced e-cargo bikes. The bikes are electric and come equipped with a big carrier attached to the front for letters and packages.
The bikes work perfectly for shorter routes and can go up to 93 miles on a single charge.
Complications
A few complications can come along with transforming entire EV delivery fleets, one being charging stations.
EVs have to be charged to work—instead of filling up the tank with gas drivers have to fill the battery with electricity.
With huge fleets like FedEx will have that requires a lot of space to have charging facilities.
In a release, FedEx explains that it is making adequate charging infrastructures a priority. The company has a vehicles and facilities team that is working with power utilities, government officials at all levels, and regulatory agencies to ensure that it has charging facilities available.
Not only that, the company is also collaborating with utility companies to develop more sustainable grids that will support the large fleet of vehicles.
Others going green
FedEx isn’t the only delivery network going green—Amazon is also fighting to electrify its fleet.
Rivian Automotive and Mercedes-Benz have partnered to build all-electric commercial vehicles for both companies and Amazon is already on the order list.
Amazon made an order for 100,000 vans from Rivian and owns about 17% of Rivian stock.