FedEx recently announced that they will be adding four electric vans to its U.S. delivery fleet. The vans designed by UK firm, Modec, have a range of 100 miles and a payload capacity of 2.2 tons (4409 pounds).

 

According to FedEx, that is enough range and payload capacity for a typical 8 hour work day of door to door service. The first two delivery vans, built by Navistar, are making a cross-country tour to build awareness of what could be coming up on FedEx's green horizon. Two more vehicles will be built later this year, but by a different manufacturer.

 

Just to be clear, these electric vans are not just some PR game. FedEx is playing with the public, as they are using this small fleet to test the technology under a variety of uses and different climates. FedEx indicates that vehicles similar to these will be on the road once they can find a smaller battery with more energy density and once the U.S. grid can handle a large number of the vans.

 

It should also be noted that FedEx already has a fleet of 1800 alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, making them the top dog when it comes to practicing alternative energy use in the parcel delivery business.

 

As mentioned earlier, these vehicles are on tour, as we speak, making the trek from Chicago to Los Angeles. To see if and when the the FedEx electric van will stop in your neck of the woods, check out the links below.

 

Source: Inhabitat, FedEx, Modec