In total, 114 electric vehicle charging points will be installed by Shell Recharge Solutions at parcel pick-up and delivery stations in north and south London, Madrid, Amsterdam, Paris and Strasbourg.
The company has also placed an order for 98 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter vans which are anticipated to arrive in these facilities next year.
Commenting on the move, Vinay D’Souza, Senior Vice President of Planning and Engineering, FedEx Express Europe, said:
“Besides identifying specific electric vehicles that fit our operational needs across the fleet, there are complex considerations to electrification that go beyond the vehicle. For electric vehicles to become the norm in an optimised and resilient network, it’s critical that we take the time to get the foundations right, ahead of the physical introduction of the vehicles themselves. By starting first with six major stations, we’ll quickly reach an informed position from which to roll-out broader electrification plans in Europe. Getting ahead of our future energy and infrastructure needs is a priority, then integrating electric vehicles in increasing numbers as we continue the retirement of diesel delivery vans.
According to FedEx Express, the stations benefitting from the charging infrastructure roll-out were chosen following a comprehensive assessment of the facility’s energy capacity, the availability of low- or zero-carbon renewable energy supply, and the maximum number of vehicle routes that could be transitioned to electric vehicles in the near-term future.
Having prioritised cities and locations next in line for electrification, FedEx Express Europe says it aims to install an additional 200 charging points in its facilities this year.