[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 78 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7130-S7131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FEDEX CORPORATION AND HYBRID VEHICLES

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I want to bring to my colleague's 
attention to great step forward for the environment that the FedEx 
Corporation is undertaking. The company recently bought 20 hybrid 
trucks and has announced that it is planning to replace 30,000 of its 
delivery trucks with hybrid vehicles over the next 10 years.
  This means that the FedEx Corporation is one of the first big 
commercial fleets to move toward using environmentally friendly hybrid 
vehicles.
  The 20 hybrid trucks that have already been purchased are the 
delivery trucks that we see in cities across the Nation every day. 
These low-emission, hybrid electric-powered delivery vehicles will 
decrease particulate emissions by 90 percent, reduce smog-causing 
emissions by 75 percent and increase fuel efficiency by 50 percent.
  FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, has been working on 
this project for 3 years with Environmental Defense. The company and 
the environmental organization worked together as partners to develop 
the concept for manufacturers to create an ``environmentally 
progressive commercial delivery vehicle.''

[[Page S7131]]

  I own two hybird cars. They are amazing because as the driver I do 
not have to change anything. I still fill up the car--although less 
often--at any gas station. I don't need to change how I drive my car.
  Similarly, these new hybrid delivery trucks will have no impact how 
FedEx does its day-to-day business. But it will improve the environment 
and ultimately save the company money in fuel costs. It is a win-win 
situation and shows yet again that what is good for the environment can 
also be good for the economy and business.
  I congratulate FedEx Corporation for this action, and I urge other 
companies with large fleets to follow FedEx's lead in transforming 
their fleets to protect our environment.

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