UPS pursuing green technology for the brown trucks
Friday, February 20, 2009 at 19:42 UPS recently announced the launch of 300 hybrid versions of their signature brown delivery trucks here in the United States.
“Deploying alternative fuel vehicles dates back to the early days of UPS and this CNG deployment is one more step towards the greening of the our fleet,” said Robert Hall, UPS’s director of vehicle engineering. “Continuing to add CNG delivery trucks to our fleet is a sustainable choice because natural gas is a cost effective, clean-burning and readily available fuel.”
Since UPS has, for many years, been one of the world’s largest buyers of fossil fuel - between its ground fleet and aircraft - it’s a welcome move that is taking hold throughout the UPS global fleet.
For its alternative fuel fleet, UPS has deployed CNG, Liquefied Natural Gas, propane, electric and hybrid electric vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Brazil, Chile, Korea and the United Kingdom. The company recently announced the purchase of seven hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicles, a first in the industry, and has conducted research with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
UPS began deploying alternative fuel vehicles in the 1930s with a fleet of electric trucks that operated in New York City. Just since 2000, the company’s “green fleet” has traveled 144 million miles.
“Deploying eco-friendly delivery vehicles is one of the many ways UPS demonstrates its commitment to sustainable business practices,” added Hall. “The company plans to continue to expand its ‘green fleet’ and to focus deployments in areas with air quality challenges.”