23 July 2024, London, United Kingdom - Federal Express Corporation, the world’s largest express transportation company has begun a two-week pilot of an eActros 300 tractor, an all-electric vehicle from Mercedes-Benz Trucks. The tractor unit is being used in place of a combustion engine tractor and trailer combination, to fulfil domestic linehaul operations from the Parkhouse station, Stoke on Trent in the UK.
For the pilot period, the tractor will be paired with an existing FedEx-owned trailer. From there it will transport shipments collected from larger customers on to FedEx hubs elsewhere in the UK. The tractor will recharge onsite at the Parkhouse station during down time, using a 40kW temporary charging solution.
“Taking opportunities to test a variety of solutions in different geographical and operational circumstances is a critical part of evaluating solutions as they emerge on the market. This two-week test presents an opportunity to gain welcome hands-on experience using new technologies in heavier vehicle types and build a better picture of how such a vehicle and solution could be applied in linehaul operations in Europe,” said Louise Whitehouse Managing Fleet Maintenance, FedEx Europe.
As FedEx identifies ways to reduce emissions across its road network in Europe, the company continues to explore vehicle specifications and sizes that will best meet the needs of its operations. FedEx previously piloted the Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros 300 as a rigid truck for two weeks in Eindhoven, Netherlands in May 2024, which prompted the trial in the UK.
Elsewhere in ground operations, FedEx has recently added electric vehicles to parcel pickup and delivery operations in the United Kingdom as well as in Netherlands, Spain, and France.