UPS Green Fleet Hits 100 Million Miles
The world’s largest package delivery company has a fleet of alternative fuel trucks that has racked up 100 million miles in delivering packages to homes and businesses.
UPS has invested more than $15 million in its alternative fuel fleet, which currently operates hydrogen fuel cell, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, electric and propane-powered trucks in the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany and Brazil.
UPS began to use alternative fuel vehicles in the 1930s with electric vehicles in New York. Still, UPS did not begin isolating mileage data for its green fleet until 2000.
UPS also has partnered with government agencies and corporations to help advance the state of vehicle technology, including two such partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
UPS, the EPA and DaimlerChrysler are working together to obtain practical knowledge about operating hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a commercial delivery fleet.
In 2004, UPS was the first company in the U.S. to deploy hydrogen fuel cell technology in a commercial fleet. Since then, the vehicleS–which emit only water–have driven 34,000 miles making deliveries.
UPS’s second partnership with the EPA includes building and testing the world’s first hydraulic hybrid urban delivery vehicle. This multi-phase project includes two UPS truck prototypes with different full-series hydraulic hybrid drivetrains.
The company will begin testing the first vehicle later this year and another next year.
UPS also recently announced it will add 50 hybrid electric vehicles to its fleet over the next year. These electric hybrids will feature third-generation technology and are expected to deliver a 35 percent improvement in fuel economy over the vehicles being replaced. In addition, UPS will add 4,100 low emission vehicles in 2006 to the more than 8,000 such vehicles already in its fleet.
Provided by the Environmental News Service.