UPS is continuing the conversion of conventional diesel vehicles to environmentally-friendlyelectric drives with the new ‘P45E’ model, after it began converting its 7.5-ton vehicles, the
so-called ‘P80E’, in Germany in 2010.The P45 marks a new series of used parcel delivery vehicles that will be converted from dieselto electric engines by the German electric car manufacturer Elektro-Fahrzeuge Schwaben GmbH(EFA-S). The first P45E prototype has been recently completed and subjected to extensive practicaltests.
The new vehicle type has an admissible gross weight of 3.5 tons and is initially deployed inFrance where small and maneuverable vehicles are useful for inner cities. Since the end of October,the first two P45E vehicles are being deployed in Toulouse.
The basis of the P45E is a Mercedes Sprinter with a typical UPS design. It has the European typeapproval ECE R100 and has recently received an additional approval for the French market.
“The good experience with the P80E that UPS is already testing at different locations in Germanyin small fleets has encouraged us to expand the range of delivery vehicle types converted fromdiesel to a purely electric drive. Due to its size and maneuverability, the P45E is a furthervehicle type that is perfectly suitable for narrow inner cities,” Ralf Eschemann, DirectorAutomotive UPS West Europe, said.
The motor of the P45E vehicle is highly efficient and is supplied with power between 350-750Volts, instead of the conventional power grid of 230 Volts. To increase the energy efficiency, thevehicle features an automatic start-stop system and energy recuperation during braking. Those P45Evehicles designed in France will be equipped with different battery sizes to optimise payload andrange for the particular purpose.
The P45E prototype has a battery with 120 individual cells that provide overall energy of 38kWh. The payload of the vehicle is approximately 800 kg. The battery cells are monitored in thebattery management system individually and can also be replaced individually if required.
“This is a crucial economic advantage of the rebuilt EFA-S electric vehicles,” Eschemann said.“Thanks to the quick replacement of a defective cell, the complete performance of the battery canbe restored quickly and we avoid the complete replacement of a battery that remains the single mostexpensive part of an electric vehicle.”
In addition to the new vehicle series, UPS is continuing its conversion programme for the P80Evehicles that have been used by UPS Germany since November 2010. More than 50 converted vehicleshave been successfully deployed in different European countries for several years. Based on commonexperience and technical know-how, the vehicle type has been continuously developed and equippedwith new technical features by EFA-S.
