FedEx Express Europe, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, has received the first of 33 new Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vans being added to ground operations in Spain over the coming months.
The 3,5t fully electric vehicles have been allocated to FedEx Express stations in Madrid and Barcelona. Sixteen electric vehicles are already fulfilling parcel pickup and delivery routes in central Madrid and 17 vehicles will soon be on the road in Barcelona.
A total of 33 charging points will be in place across both sites, where the energy supply is certified as being from renewable energy, and a dynamic power management solution ensures the full fleet of electric vehicles can adequately charge onsite overnight.
Ian Silverton, Managing Director Ground Operations, FedEx Express Spain, said: “Our employees and customers alike are excited to see the first of these vehicles out and about in Madrid and Barcelona, making low and zero emissions pickup and delivery more commonplace in Spain. These two locations are key in our network, and these new vehicles help us move towards more sustainable operations in both cities.”
David Perdomo Hollatz, Head of Sales & Marketing Mercedes-Benz Vans Region Europe & Germany, said: “I am pleased that our battery-electric eSprinter are helping FedEx Express towards its own goals in the area of locally emission-free delivery. Reliability and customer orientation are important values, in logistics as well as in vehicle manufacturing. As a company, Mercedes-Benz is committed to these values.”
In March 2021, FedEx announced a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040 with the phased electrification of its owned parcel pickup and delivery fleet playing a major part in the roadmap.
In line with FedEx practical approach to sustainability, the new vehicles will allow diesel vehicles that still have an operational lifespan to be redistributed in the fleet, and older vehicles retired from operations completely.
Elsewhere in Europe, FedEx Express has already added 23 of the same electric vehicle to operations in London, UK, 12 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and 28 are pending delivery to the Paris area, France.
