FedEx close to first all-hybrid facility

FedEx Express said Monday it will pick up another 51 gas-electric hybrid trucks from Azure Dynamics in November and December. Most of those trucks will be added to its Bronx, N.Y. station, which will become its first all-hybrid facility.

The Bronx location will have 100 hybrid trucks. FedEx has 325 hybrid trucks total.

The hybrid FedEx trucks will get the usual abuse from New York driving conditions, but the transportation giant expects to improve fuel efficiency by 30 percent.

The FedEx hybrid fleet has logged more than four million miles of revenue service since 2004. The company estimates that it has reduced fuel use by 150,000 gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by 1,521 metric tons.

FedEx received a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for the latest round of hybrid trucks.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com