FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, has placed into service the first of its new, low-emission, hybrid electric powered delivery vehicles in concert with the Sacramento (CA) Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD), Environmental Defense, and Eaton Corp.
The official rollout took place at a state capitol ceremony attended by California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger. The FedEx OptiFleet E700 hybrid electric vehicle will decrease particulate emissions by 90%, cut smog-causing emissions by 75%, and go 50% farther on a gallon of fuel, reducing fuel costs by one-third.
Two FedEx OptiFleet E700 hybrid electric vehicles have been tested in Sacramento since late February after an agreement with the Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD to demonstrate commercial viability of the lower-emission powertrain in heavy-duty vehicles. The project was made possible in part by a grant provided by the AQMD.
FedEx Express will place 18 additional hybrid electric diesel delivery trucks into service in selected cities throughout 2004. New York City, Houston TX, Washington DC, Denver CO and other cities are possible locations for future rollouts of the hybrid electric trucks.