FedEx Corp., UPS, and Amazon are all transitioning to electric delivery vans. | Rivian/Amazon
Your packages may soon be dropped off by electric delivery vans.
Earlier this month, FedEx Corp. announced ambitious plans to achieve carbon–neutral operations around the world by 2040.
In order to accomplish its goal, the company will initially invest $2 billion to convert its parcel pickup and delivery fleet to battery-powered, zero-emission vehicles.
The investment will also go towards sustainable energy and carbon sequestration. To help accelerate advancements in research on the latter, FedEx has pledged $100 million to Yale University to help establish the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture. The center will also delve into ways to best offset airline greenhouse gas emissions.
“We have a responsibility to take bold action in addressing climate challenges,” Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp chairman and CEO, said in a statement.
“This goal builds on our longstanding commitment to sustainability throughout our operations, while at the same time investing in long-term, transformational solutions for FedEx and our entire industry,” he added.
FedEx isn’t the only delivery company to go electric.
In January 2020, UPS revealed it had purchased 10,000 electric delivery vans from UK-based electric vehicle startup Arrival. Arrival also announced plans to build a second microfactory in the U.S. to manufacture electric vans for the delivery company.
“Arrival has created Generation 2 electric vehicles that are better in price, design, and experience than traditional fossil fuel vehicles and existing EVs,” Avinash Rugoobur, Arrival’s chief strategy officer, said in a statement. “We believe this is amongst the most impactful areas to start the transition to a fully electric future, and our partnership with UPS will drive us both towards our shared vision of cleaner mobility.”
Amazon is also moving away from fossil fuels. As part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge, the company plans to be net-zero carbon by 2040. In 2019, the company purchased 100,000 electric delivery vans from Michigan-based start-up Rivian.
It plans to have 10,000 of the vehicles on the road by 2022 and the remaining in use by 2030. The company is currently testing its electric delivery vans throughout San Francisco. This follows its recent test in Los Angeles last month.
Even DHL is going electric. The company announced it would be reducing its transport-related emissions to zero by 2050. One-fifth of DHL’s delivery fleet is now made up of zero-emission vehicles.
This post was last modified on March 25, 2021 5:36 pm