Hybrid electric-powered walk-in vans

May 1, 2006
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp(FCCC), FedEx Express, Eaton, Utilimaster, and Detroit Diesel have teamed to develop an award-winning line of hybrid electric-powered

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp(FCCC), FedEx Express, Eaton, Utilimaster, and Detroit Diesel have teamed to develop an award-winning line of hybrid electric-powered walk-in vans. FedEx Express, which initiated the program, is already benefiting from the use of these walk-in vans, which are expected to become a mainstay in the FedEx fleet.

With reduced emissions and improved fuel economy, FCCC's new hybrid electric-powered vehicle is gaining national attention. In December 2005, FedEx Express received a 2005 Blue Sky Award from CALSTART, an advanced transportation technologies consortium, in “recognition of outstanding marketplace contributions to advanced, sustainable transportation that cleans the air, improves energy efficiency, and reduces greenhouse emissions.”

FedEx Express is operating 18 FCCC hybrid electric-powered walk-in vans in four markets: Sacramento CA, Tampa FL, New York City NY, and Washington DC. FCCC will produce more than 100 hybrid electric-powered walk-in vans for FedEx and other customers in 2006.

The walk-in vans are built on FCCC's MT-45 SR chassis platform, which has the added value realized by implementation of the hybrid-electric power train. These vehicles have a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 15,000 pounds.

Lithium-ion batteries capture and store energy during the “regenerative braking” phase of the vehicle's operation, providing a source of stored electrical power on demand.

The new vans have shown improvements in fuel economy of more than 50% and a 90% reduction in emissions.