FedEx's commitment to the environment starts behind the counter at every FedEx Kinko's, rises to the top of our hub in Oakland, Calif., and travels the streets of Tampa, Sacramento, New York City and Washington D.C. That's where we've begun deploying eco-friendly hybrid trucks.

The FedEx OptiFleet E700 diesel-electric hybrid is a revolution in truck technology. Developed in partnership among FedEx, Eaton Corp. and Environmental Defense, the hybrid produces 96 percent less soot than its diesel-only counterparts and travels more than 50 percent farther on a gallon of fuel. It will cost the same as a conventional truck over its lifetime while reducing both fuel costs and global warming emissions by one-third.

The trucks are ideally suited for the frequent stop-and-go delivery pattern required in cities. When a driver hits the brakes on the hybrid, the batteries capture and store energy that is usually lost during deceleration. On acceleration, the batteries release the stored energy to produce a smooth acceleration that's quiet and fuel-efficient.

FedEx plans to add up to 75 new hybrids to its fleet by the spring of 2006 and replace as many diesel delivery trucks as possible during the normal replacement cycle within the next 10 years, if hybrid production rises and prices fall as desired — ultimately saving more than one million barrels of crude oil a year.

"As fuel prices rise, fuel-efficient trucks are an investment every company should be making," said Gwen Ruta, director of corporate partnerships at Environmental Defense. "They're not only good for business but good for America."

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