Truck Manufacturers Vie to Produce Next Generation Fedex Express Truck

FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company, and the Alliance for Environmental Innovation, one of the first environmental advocacy groups to work cooperatively with business, announced that three competing teams have committed to produce prototype vehicles for the next generation of FedEx Express delivery trucks. The three competing teams are headed by Allison Transmission Division of General Motors, BAE SYSTEMS Controls and Eaton Corporation.

FedEx Express and the Alliance for Environmental Innovation invited companies to submit proposals for design and development of a delivery truck that will increase fuel efficiency by 50% and reduce emissions by 90%. Over 20 suppliers responded to the project’s call for cleaner, economical, fuel-efficient delivery trucks.

The project seeks to:

• Deliver significant and measurable reductions in pollution, fuel consumption and resource use,
• Prove that environmental improvements to the current FedEx delivery vehicles are economically and functionally viable, and
• Accelerate the time to market of full production-scale environmentally preferable vehicles substantially sooner than regulations require.

In October 2002, the prototype hybrid electric trucks will be tested for performance against a baseline FedEx Express delivery vehicle. The ultimate goal of the project is to select the next standard FedEx delivery truck, to be on the road by 2004.

“FedEx Express is strongly committed to protecting the environment,” said Mitch Jackson, director of Environmental Management for FedEx Express. “With the expertise of these companies and our commitment for hybrid-electric vehicle purchases, this project will demonstrate that environmental benefit can go hand-in-hand with good business.”

“This project is accelerating the production and use of clean truck technology that will result in cleaner air and less fossil fuel use,” said Elizabeth Sturcken, project manager for the Alliance.

With new vehicle technology in development and impending regulations affecting diesel trucks, the FedEx-Alliance project signals a new demand for transportation options that meet business needs and minimize impacts on the environment. Options are needed to minimize air pollutants including soot, smog-causing emissions, and greenhouse gases linked to global climate change.

For additional information on this project, visit www.environmentaldefense.org/go/fedex.

The Alliance for Environmental Innovation is an initiative of Environmental Defense. The Alliance works cooperatively with companies to reduce waste and incorporate environmental considerations into business decisions. By combining the expertise and perspective of environmental scientists and economists with the business skills of leading companies, the Alliance creates environmental solutions that make business sense.

With annual revenues of $20 billion, FedEx Corp. is the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply chain management services. The company offers integrated business solutions through a network of subsidiaries operating independently, including: FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground, North America’s second largest provider of small-package ground delivery service; FedEx Freight, a leading provider of regional less-than-truckload freight services; FedEx Custom Critical, the world’s largest provider of expedited time-critical shipments; and FedEx Trade Networks, a provider of customs brokerage, consulting, information technology and trade facilitation solutions.