By Candice Ludlow
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-850954.mp3
Memphis, TN –
FedEx took one more step toward going green this week, increasing its fleet of hybrid-electric trucks by more than 50 percent. Candice Ludlow reports.
Ninety-two converted hybrid-electric trucks rolled into FedEx headquarters Wednesday, creating the largest fleet of hybrid-electric vehicles in North America, now totaling 264, that's according to FedEx Express Vice President of Global Vehicles John Formisano.
"At this point, there is a real mission for alternative fuel vehicles, like hybrids, so we know what the niche is for say a hybrid vehicle like this. And that is an urban mission, a lot of stop and go, a lot of package deliveries. In longer mileage missions, hybrid doesn't help us, so more fuel-efficient technology and just off-the-shelf production vehicles will go a long way in hitting our goal," Formisano said.
FedEx introduced hybrid-electric vehicles in 2004.
"We have four million miles on our existing hybrid electric fleet. That fleet has saved already 150,000 gallons of vehicle fuel and it's already saved 1,500 metric tons of CO2 that we did not put in the atmosphere by using those vehicles," Formisano said.
FedEx projects that the newly refurbished trucks will increase fuel efficiency by 44 percent, and decrease carbon emissions significantly.
Judge McKinney is a vehicle engineer for FedEx. "A hybrid of this type really comes into play and is extremely beneficial in a traditional pick-up and delivery route because you do have a lot of starts and a lot of stops. And it's during that stopping cycle that you're able to take that energy that was just wasted heat energy from the breaking cycle and you're able to use a lot of that to actually put back into the batteries and then regain, recoup that energy to start to make the next delivery," McKinney said.
The hybrid-electric trucks were retrofitted in Charlotte, North Carolina, creating 50 temporary, green jobs. The trucks are 2000 or 2001 models with at least 300,000 miles.
"What we've done is, we took a chassis, and it's kind of the ultimate in recycling, if you will, that we're recycling an entire truck and giving it another life. So you have that savings on the capital cost of a new one versus one where we're using a chassis. You also have savings in fuel," Formisano said.
FedEx's main rival, UPS, is also in the game with alternative-fuel vehicles. Its North American fleet consists of 50 hybrid-electrics that deliver packages in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Phoenix. Elizabeth Rasberry is a spokesperson for UPS. "It is our goal to minimize our dependence on fossil fuels, so we are looking to expand our fleet. We ordered 200 hybrid-electrics last," Rasberry said. UPS will determine this year where they'll send their new hybrid-electrics.
Meanwhile, the retrofitted FedEx hybrid-electric vehicles are now headed to California, and will be deployed in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. But if you're lucky, you may see one of the only two hybrid-electric delivery trucks in the Memphis region. Just look for the EarthSmart logo.