Electrified cargo vehicle can help much more than electric cars when it comes to conserving nature. A couple of months back, DHL and Ford joined hands to develop electric trucks that the former would be using its delivery fleet. This time, it is FedEx and Chanje doing the same thing by introducing electric vans.
Will These Vans Last Long?
Just last week, FedEx announced that it is planning to add 1,000 electric delivery vans to its fleet. These will be Chinese-built delivery vans manufactured by Los Angeles-based startup company, Chanje. Although the company is based out of L.A., the vans will be manufactured by its primary investor, FDG Electric Vehicles Ltd in Hangzhou, China.
Been There, Done That
FedEx is not new to alternate fuel vans; it already has a few hydrogen cell delivery vehicles manufactured by Workhorse Group. By adding a 1,000 more zero-emission vehicles, FedEx is certainly setting a trend in the industry. The shipping company will also be saving on maintenance and fuel costs when compared to internal combustion vehicles. For the environment, this is a boon. These 1,000 noiseless, smokeless vans will take 1,000 internal combustion vans off the roads.
What Matters
Final Thoughts
From a general standpoint, 1,000 electric vans seem like a big number, but this is teeny-bit when you consider that FedEx has over 60,000 vehicles in its fleet that deliver more than eight million packages every day! So, for a big fish like FedEx, 1,000 electric vans is a tiny investment, but for a startup like Chanje, it could change the way the company operates. This deal not only adds FedEx to their client-list but also helps build credibility that the company is game for bigger things. If Chanje can capitalize on this, it can mark its presence all over the world by getting into human mobility as well. What are your thoughts on this deal and these electric vans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Further reading
Read our full review on the 2019 Tesla Semi.