UPS Purchases 130 Hybrid Electric Vehicles
30 September 2010
UPS announced the purchase of 130 next-generation hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) to add to its growing alternative-fuel vehicle (AFV) fleet. The HEV fleet features two different size vehicles from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation and a hybrid drive system from Eaton Corporation.
The 130 hybrids all will be deployed next year, with 30 going to New York and New Jersey and 100 to California. UPS estimates these vehicles will save 66,085 gallons of fuel and 671 metric tonnes of CO2 annually, representing a 35% improvement in fuel economy.
UPS already operates one of the largest private fleets of alternative-fuel vehicles in the transportation industry—2,022 in total. The company has invested more than $25 million to develop its AFV fleet, which besides hybrid electric includes such other fuels as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane and all-electric. The fleet is deployed in eight countries besides the US and since 2000, has traveled 185 million miles (298 million km).
UPS was the first package delivery company to introduce a hybrid electric vehicle into daily operation with a research program in early 1998. Currently, there are 250 UPS HEV delivery vehicles operating in the United States.
Hybrid electric technology has proven itself to be effective in the field. We are eager to receive these new HEVs in 2011 and get them on the road.
—Mike Britt, UPS’s director of vehicle engineering
Cool!
Posted by: TM | 01 October 2010 at 08:51 AM
I can remember going to work and watching the UPS trucks come out of the depot trailing black diesel smoke. Cleaner, more efficient trucks that run on alternate fuels are welcome.
Posted by: SJC | 03 October 2010 at 03:14 PM