FedEx begins renewable diesel truck trials in the UK

FedEx Express Europe is examining the potential of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) renewable diesel by using it to fuel five trucks in the UK.

The company launched the use of renewable diesel to fuel heavyweight, long-distance vehicles in the Netherlands in November last year, as a more environmentally favourable alternative to fossil fuels.

With the deployment of this new 100% HVO fuel, the UK becomes the next part of the FedEx network in the region to start trialling the use of renewable fuel.

FedEx Express has already outlined its goal to transition to a fully electric fleet by 2040. However, finding a viable energy alternative to fossil fuels is more difficult with bigger vehicles that also tend to travel longer distances.

“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 for 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.”

The FedEx goal announced in March 2021 to achieve carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040 includes all FedEx owned and operated transportation including parcel pick-up and delivery, its extensive European linehaul truck network, and aircraft.

It also includes the company’s scope three emissions that are generated by contracted transportation services that play a part in the FedEx network.