Another Australian delivery giant signs up for 55 electric vans and trucks

One of the largest delivery firms in Australia will add 55 electric vans and trucks to its fleet in a move the company says will appeal to environmentally conscious companies and consumers.

FedEx Australia says its electric vehicle plans will begin with the introduction of 15 battery-powered trucks in Adelaide, followed by a wider rollout in Sydney and Melbourne this year.

Thursday’s announcement follows similar moves into electric fleets by ANC Delivers and Australia Post over recent weeks, as well as electric vehicle commitments from Team Global Express and trucking firm Linfox.

The US-based company will add 15 Fuso eCanter electric trucks to its Adelaide depot to kickstart the project, which promises to cut 13.2 tonnes of carbon emission for every 30,000 kilometres travelled compared to their diesel equivalents.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vans will also join the company’s fleet of more than 2500 vehicles in the coming months and are expected to cut 8.5 tonnes of carbon emissions per vehicle each year.

The Australian acquisitions follow similar purchases in New Zealand, FedEx Australasia regional vice-president Peter Langley said.

“Our customers are more and more asking what are we doing for sustainability and this is something we can go to them with that’s very tangible and understandable,” he told AAP.

“Some of the larger customers we have, unless you can work through these things and substantiate what’s happening, it’s difficult to do business with them.”

The electric trucks and vans would be deployed in Melbourne next, Mr Langley said, after the installation of charging infrastructure expected to begin next week.

Electric vehicles would be introduced to regional depots after chargers could be installed more widely, he said, as FedEx had a global goal to electrify its entire pick-up and delivery fleet by 2040.

The new-generation trucks and vans were more costly to purchase outright, but could ultimately deliver savings, he said.

“There are some extra costs with them. They’re more expensive than a normal, aspirated petrol or diesel vehicle but the full life is a better outcome,” he said.

“They are comfortable and they’re silent and they’re a nice vehicle to be in. We’ve got a queue of drivers and couriers trying to get in them, put it that way.”

FedEx’s announcement comes weeks after ANC Delivers revealed it had added 111 electric vehicles to its fleet as part of a project co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, replacing more than 12 per cent of its fleet.

Australia Post added 36 Mercedes-Benz electric vans to its delivery vehicles in August, and Linfox announced plans to purchase 30 heavy-duty electric trucks in May.

Rival delivery firm Team Global Express also committed to purchasing 60 last-mile electric trucks last year in a deal led by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Pollution from transport makes up about 19 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to government figures, and could become the nation’s largest contributor by 2030.

AAP