OREANDA-NEWS. Marking the first use of all-electric pickup and delivery vehicles in Japan, FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., today announced the introduction of two zero-emission all-electric Nissan e-NV200 vehicles at the Shinsuna station for Tokyo area pickups and deliveries.  FedEx also installed an e-NV200 battery charging station at the facility.

For FedEx, reducing the environmental impact of daily carbon dioxide emissions from its aircraft and delivery vehicles is central to the company’s commitment to connecting the world in more responsible and resourceful ways.

This goal, a part of the FedEx EarthSmart initiative, will further advance the company’s existing target of improving fleet fuel efficiency by 30% by 2020, from a 2005 baseline.  To reach it, FedEx follows these measures:

REDUCE:  Optimize routing and driving habits to reduce mileage and fuel consumption;

REPLACE:  Upgrade vehicles to more efficient ones wherever possible;

REVOLUTIONIZE:  Identify and invest in future technologies such as alternative fuel, hybrid-electronic and electronic vehicles.

Through these initiatives, FedEx has already nearly achieved its goal, bringing its cumulative improvement from 2005 levels to 29.5% as of 2014.  Plans are to revisit the goal after it is reached.

The introduction of all-electric vehicles is one measure in the FedEx long-term approach to environmental issues.  As of 2014, FedEx has 397 hybrid vehicles, 404 electric vehicles, 132 natural gas-fueled vehicles and 40 hydrogen-fueled vehicles globally.  FedEx Japan has seven hybrid vehicles and nine natural gas-fueled vehicles as of February 2016.

“With more than 190 countries recently signing the COP21 Paris Agreement to establish an international framework for decreasing fossil fuel dependency worldwide, global awareness of environmental and global warming issues is increasing,” said Masamichi Ujiie, regional vice president, North Pacific.  “As a company conducting business worldwide, FedEx is committed to addressing environmental issues through such environmental measures as the introduction of zero-emission all-electric vehicles.”