UPS to deploy 100 electric trucks in California

UPS is continuing its roll out of alternative vehicle technologies today, with plans to purchase 100 all-electric delivery vehicles for use in California from next year. The company said it will be buying the class-6 walk-in vehicles from Electric Vehicles International, a manufacturer that started out in Mexico in 1989 before moving to Stockton, California, two years ago.

Replacing older generation diesel trucks, the zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles will have a 90-mile range and cut UPS fuel consumption by around 126,000 gallons a year.

The move will considerably bolster the UPS electric vehicle fleet, which currently numbers 28 vehicles, operating in New York City, the UK and Germany.

UPS has been testing out various vehicle technologies for different parts of its logistics network, with its “Rolling Laboratory” trialing technologies ranging from liquified and compressed natural gas to propane, fuel cell and electric-hybrid vehicles.

Mike Britt, UPS’s director of vehicle engineering, said it was now time to explore electric drive systems in more depth with respect to the short-range segment of the UPS delivery fleet.

“EVI’s vehicle met our requirements in the test phase. Now we will operate these vehicles in the real world and help establish the future viability of this technology,” he said.

Britt told Post&Parcel that UPS already has 380 hybrid-electric vehicles, but sees a lot of potential in all-electric vehicles for short distances. “That’s a technology that’s going to have a good future going forward,” he said.

EVI

Electric Vehicles International (EVI) has actually been working with UPS for more than two years leading up to this project, including a 90-day demonstration last autumn.

The EVI vehicles have top speeds of 65mph,a 55-degree wheel cut for good maneuverability and achieve 0-60mph in 26 seconds. The vehicles have a 120kW motor and a lithium battery, which charges in six to 12 hours depending on power source.

The 100 UPS vehicles are expected to be deployed early in 2012.

Ricky Hanna, EVI chief executive, said: “We are proud to provide 100 California-made vehicles to UPS beginning in January. UPS is an industry leader in implementing alternative fuel vehicles into their fleet, and we are excited to partner with them on this deployment.”

The purchase order was supported by various incentives from the State of California and area air quality agencies.

Deborah Jordan, director of the air division in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest office, said: “The EPA applauds the leadership of UPS in deploying these delivery trucks and encourages the deployment of more zero-emission vehicles, which are needed to further improve California’s air quality.”