FedEx has placed a reservation for 20 Tesla Semi trucks. The fully-electric trucks, which are scheduled to begin production in 2019, will be operated by FedEx Freight, its less-than-truckload unit.
“FedEx has a long history of innovation and incorporating sustainability efforts throughout its global network,” said FedEx Freight president and CEO Mike Ducker. “Our investment in these trucks is part of our commitment to improving road safety while also reducing our environmental impact.”
Tesla says its new big rig will deliver a far better experience for truck drivers, while increasing safety and significantly reducing the cost of cargo transport. Its advanced technologies, such as surround cameras and onboard sensors, help to aid object detection while also enabling Enhanced Autopilot for automatic emergency braking, automatic lane keeping, and lane departure warning. The company also touts electric energy cost savings that are half that of diesel.
Since 2008, FedEx has saved more than 158 million gallons of vehicle fuel by replacing vehicles with more efficient models and making greater use of electric vehicles, fuel cells, natural gas, hybrids and clean truck technologies.
