USPS announced plans to identifynew, more environmentally friendly vehicles technologies less depending on petroleum-based fuelsources to replace the 195,000 neighbourhood delivery vehicles of its total 220,000vehicles.
“We are looking for a vehicle thatoperates from a fuel source that reduces – or eliminates – our dependence on petroleum products,that is good for the environment, good for our customers and good for the Postal Service,” saidWalter O’Tormey, vice president, Engineering, as he accepted the keys to the Equinox Fuel Cell thatwill be tested in Irvine, California.
According to USPS’ statement ahydrogen fuel cell vehicle is twice as efficient as an internal combustion engine and is unique inthat the fuel cell emits only water vapor which doesn’t harm the environment. Hydrogen’s greatestadvantage as a fuel is that it can be made in many ways using both traditional and renewable energysources, such as wind, solar and biomass energy.
Moving forward with non-petroleumfueled vehicles is more important to the Postal Service than ever, since a one-cent increase in agallon of fuel adds €5 million ($8 million) annually to Postal Service expenses, O’Tormey said.Fuel costs last year were €1.08 billion ($1.7 billion) and are expected to increase this year by€381 million ($600 million).
“The Postal Service has been aninvaluable partner, and they put our fuel cell vehicles through some tough, daily workouts”, saidMary Beth Stanek, director of energy and environmental policy & commercialization at GeneralMotors. “We are gaining valuable insight on how these vehicles perform in demanding, real-worldsituations. By participating in Project Driveway, the Postal Service also is demonstrating the needto develop a hydrogen infrastructure to support fueling these vehicles.”
“We are very encouraged by GM’s fuel cell technology,” O’Tormey added. “ We also want to explore other options, such as hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and other ‘green’vehicles that will help us continue to provide our customers with reliable service while protectingthe environment.”
The Postal Service leads the federalgovernment in the number of alternate fuel vehicles it uses. More than 43,000 can operate onhybrid-electric, electric, compressed natural gas, liquid propane gas, ethanol (E-85),biodiesel and hydrogen fuel cell.
