Electric truck manufacturer Workhorse Group has received an order from transportation and logistics company FedEx for 15 W56 electric step vans, with delivery scheduled later this year.
The order is part of FedEx’s ongoing effort to transition to a fully zero-tailpipe emissions fleet by 2040, supporting its broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality across global operations.
According to Workhorse, the order comes after a successful demonstration where the W56 met FedEx’s operational duty cycle requirements. During real-world delivery route testing, the W56 achieved 31 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), compared to the national average of 7 MPG for standard delivery trucks, the company says.
Based on an estimated 31,875 miles driven per vehicle annually, the addition of these vans is expected to reduce FedEx’s tailpipe emissions by approximately 607 metric tons each year.
“FedEx is cultivating a strong roster of electric vehicle models that can meet the demands of our network,” said Pat Donlon, Vice President, Global Vehicles, FedEx. “In joining our fleet, the electric Workhorse W56 will be part of our story as we aim to transition our global parcel pickup and delivery fleet to all zero-tailpipe emissions vehicles by 2040.”
FedEx operates close to 200,000 vehicles within its entire fleet. The company plans to transition to an all-electric parcel pickup and delivery fleet by 2040.
Transport competitors such as UPS also are shifting toward electrification in some parts of their fleets. Two years ago, UPS’ Chinese division began adding electric vans for downtown routes in Beijing and Xi’an.
The United States Postal Service has announced plans to invest close to $40 billion in revamping its processing, transportation and delivery networks. USPS unveiled some of its first charging stations and new EV fleets earlier this year.