Electric switch
UPS has announced that it will be working with Unique Electric Solutions to convert trucks from its New York City delivery fleet from diesel to electric propulsion.
In a statement issued yesterday, UPS said that it will work with Unique Electric Solutions to design, build, test and make the conversions.
UPS is also working with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on the project.
NYSERDA is providing $500,000 in funding to develop and test the conversion system.
“Public-private partnerships help push innovation forward and transform industries,” said Carlton Rose, President, global fleet maintenance and engineering, UPS. “This program will help UPS develop and deploy electric delivery trucks faster and more affordably. Because they are cleaner and quieter, electric vehicles are ideal for dense urban environments like New York City and are a critical part of our strategy for the future.”
If successful, the Bronx-based project is expected to bring a production version of the converted truck to the streets of New York City by Spring 2018.
According to UPS: “In addition to producing a new, cost-effective all-electric conversion kit, the project will deliver a blueprint for converting up to three UPS vehicles a day. This could lead to the conversion of up to 1,500 UPS delivery trucks, which is about 66% of UPS’s NYC fleet, operating in New York City by 2022.
Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “This project is a prime example of the State’s investment in new and innovative technology that can help us meet Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading clean energy goals. I applaud UPS and Unique Electric Solutions for their leadership in developing this system that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and has tremendous potential to be used by the entire delivery industry.”
The conversions will be based on technology developed by Unique Electric Solutions. The core system features a 225kW Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) with a high voltage back bone optimized for the duty cycle of UPS delivery trucks.
UPS currently operates more than 770 electric or hybrid electric vehicles in urban settings around the world. They are part of a fleet of more than 8,500 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles worldwide. UPS has set a goal that by 2020 one in four vehicles purchased annually will use alternative fuels or advanced technology.
