UPS announced plans to purchase 100 all-electric delivery vehicles to be deployed in Californiaas part of the company’s continuing commitment to reduce the environmental impact of its delivery
vehicles and improve energy security.The 100 vehicles to be bought from Electric Vehicles International (EVI) in Stockton,California, will replace the older generation diesel trucks. UPS said it is the largest singledeployment of zero tailpipe emission delivery vehicles in the state.
The new vehicles have a 90-mile range and displace an estimated 126,000 gallons of fuel a yearthat would have been burned running diesel trucks.
“This purchase is a milestone for UPS’s alternative fleet expansion,” said Mike Britt, UPS’sdirector of vehicle engineering.”UPS’s research and development of alternative technologies hasdetermined it is time to explore electric drive systems within the short-range segment of ourdelivery fleet. This purchase is an important first step in supporting investment and advancementin electric vehicle technology. EVI’s vehicle met our requirements in the test phase. Now we willoperate these vehicles in the real world and help establish the future viability of thistechnology.”
UPS currently deploys 28 all-electric vehicles in New York City and in Europe. It operates oneof the largest private fleets of alternative fuel vehicles in the industry with more than 2,200 intotal.
“The advantage of an electric power train is zero tailpipe emissions. These trucks will beperfectly suited for UPS’s short range urban delivery routes,” Britt added.
The purchase adds to various other sustainable activities of UPS with the aim to protect theenvironment and reduce its carbon emissions.
