FedEx starts cross-border EV delivery trial from MY to SG

Express transportation company, FedEx Express, has launched its first cross-border delivery trial from Malaysia to Singapore using an electric vehicle (EV). 

The cross-border delivery journey will be made by 'Maxus eDeliver 7' from a FedEx station in Shah Alam to a FedEx facility at Changi Airport in Singapore.

The total distance covered for the journey will be 406 kilometers. In addition, the estimated reduction of tailpipe CO2 emission for the trial journey is approximately 100 kilograms compared to diesel-powered vans, said FedEx in a statement.

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The trial is an initial assessment of the operational effectiveness for future cross-border pick-up and delivery operations. The insights gained will shape the future of FedEx operations and improve the efficiency of its fleet, said FedEx.

This initiative is part of FedEx's exploration of ways to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable logistics. It marks an important milestone for FedEx as the company works towards its goal to transform its entire global pickup and delivery fleet to zero-emission electric vehicles by 2040. 

“Making this cross-border attempt with a zero-tailpipe emissions vehicle goes beyond a logistical achievement and represents a bold step in beginning to redefine industry standards,” said Tien Long Woon, managing director of FedEx Express Malaysia.

“FedEx is committed to innovating and leveraging technologies that enable improvements to the efficiency of our operations, as well as to provide better and more sustainable services to our customers in Malaysia.”

FedEx's efforts expand out of the Asia Pacific region. In October last year, the company began trialing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) renewable diesel to fuel five of its company-owned trucks in the United Kingdom.

The decarbonisation of heavyweight transport sector is recognised as more challenging than the parcel pick-up and delivery sector, said FedEx in a statement. Finding a viable energy alternative to fossil fuels is more difficult with bigger vehicles that also tend to travel longer distances, it added. 

“Using synthetically-made diesel offers an interim solution with the promising ability to drive down ‘well-to wheel’ carbon emissions by as much as 80-90% per litre," said Louise Whitehouse, managing director fleet maintenance, FedEx Express Europe.

"It means that while other technological solutions are still being developed to help the industry transition away from using fossil fuels altogether, we can already make decisions to influence and reduce our scope one carbon emissions in our linehaul truck network – those generated by our owned vehicles." 

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