The CNG fueling stations and vehicle purchases are part of UPS’ ongoing commitment to diversify its fuel sources, implement a fleet infrastructure that can utilize lower carbon intensity fuel sources and increase experience using alternative fuels in freight transport applications.

UPS’ investment in a large scale alternative energy fleet has enabled the company to avoid more than 34 million gallons of conventional fuels since 2000. Today’s CNG announcement demonstrates UPS’ plans to expand use of widely available natural gas. CNG is an important building block in our long-term fleet strategy and offers environmental and economic advantages.

—Mitch Nichols, UPS senior vice president of transportation and engineering

Agility providing 445 CNG fuel systems to UPS
Agility Fuel Systems announced that UPS has ordered 445 of its new 160 DGE Behind-the-Cab CNG fuel systems for delivery in 2015. UPS will be operating almost 1,600 heavy duty trucks equipped with CNG or LNG fuel systems supplied by Agility.
Agility worked closely with UPS to develop and engineer custom specifications for their applications and has provided installation, training and in-servicing support to enable successful deployment and rapid expansion of natural gas in their heavy duty truck fleet.
Agility has also supported the UPS natural gas rollout with its portable fueling solution, enabling new LNG trucks to be fueled at the production plant where they are built and quickly placed into service.
Agility fuel system on UPS truck. Click to enlarge.

When the deployments are completed, UPS anticipates its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet will continue to log more than 350 million miles (563 million km) per year, supporting the company’s goal of driving one billion miles (1.6 billion km) in this fleet by the end of 2017. This will displace approximately 54 million gallons (204 million liters) of conventional diesel and gasoline annually while reducing total vehicle emissions.

According to the US Department of Energy, the use of natural gas instead of gasoline cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 6-11 percent over the fuel life cycle.

UPS plans to deploy new CNG vehicles in 15 cities. The cities are Atlanta, Ga.; Charleston, W.Va.; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; Doraville, Ga.; Lenexa, Kan.; Lexington, Ky.; Montgomery, Ala.; New Orleans, La.; New Stanton, Pa.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Port Allen, La.; Shreveport, La.; Richmond, Va., and Roanoke, Va.

Currently UPS already has a total of eight CNG fueling stations in California, Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma and operates CNG vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand.

Using a “Rolling Laboratory” approach, UPS is one of the leaders in the industry developing the cleanest, most effective pathways to support the company’s effort to reduce emissions and dependence on fossil fuels while improving efficiency. The first package delivery company to introduce alternative fuel tractors into its fleet, UPS operates one of the largest private alternative fuel and advanced technology fleets in the U.S. Its fleet includes all-electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, CNG, LNG, propane, biomethane and light-weight fuel-saving composite body vehicles.

UPS collaborates with various stakeholder groups to identify and promote transportation solutions that enhance the sustainability of emerging fuel choices. In 2012, UPS helped BSR (Businesses for Social Responsibility), launch Future of Fuels, a working group that promotes the development of lower-emission fuels for transportation. The group’s objective is to study the impacts of all fuel sources to help guide businesses in deploying alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets.