FedEx Express has begun a two week pilot of an electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 tractor, used in place of a combustion engine tractor and trailer combination, to fulfil domestic linehaul operations from Eindhoven station in the Netherlands.

For the pilot period, the tractor is paired with an existing FedEx-owned trailer, transporting shipments collected from larger customers on to hubs elsewhere in the Netherlands. The tractor will recharge onsite at the Eindhoven station during down time, using a 40kW temporary charger.

“Taking opportunities to test a variety of [vehicles] in different geographical and operational circumstances is a critical part of evaluating [vehicles] as they emerge on the market. This two-week test presents an opportunity to gain welcome hands on experience using new technologies in heavier vehicle types and build a better picture of how such a vehicle could be applied in linehaul operations in Europe,” said Mark Timmermans, VP European Road Network, FedEx Express Europe.

The company continues to explore vehicle specifications and sizes that will best meet the needs of its operations. FedEx Express previously piloted the Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros 300 as a rigid truck, using it in Basel, Switzerland for two weeks in 2023. The 19 tonne fully electric vehicle was used to fulfil parcel pickup and delivery routes, journeying between Basel and Geneva and back, before recharging overnight at the FedEx facility near Basel airport.

Elsewhere in ground operations, FedEx Express has recently added electric vehicles to parcel pickup and delivery operations in Amsterdam, Netherlands, as well as in the UK, Spain, and France.