UPS said that the deployments of delivery trucks in the two states are part of 200 new hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) deployed recently to eight US cities. In addition to Austin and Minneapolis, the 200 new trucks will operate in Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Long Island, and Louisville.
The company claims that the 200 new HEVs are expected to reduce fuel consumption by roughly 176,000 gallons over a year compared to an equivalent number of traditional diesel trucks, thereby reducing 1,786 metric tonnes the amount of CO2 gases released annually into the atmosphere.
According to the company, the new hybrid power system utilizes a conventional diesel engine combined with a lithium ion battery pack, and also uses regenerative braking. The combination of these allows significant improvements in fuel savings and emissions reductions.
Bob Stoffel, senior vice president of supply chain, strategy, engineering and sustainability at UPS, said: “Collectively, this new HEV fleet can yield a 35% fuel savings, the equivalent of what’s used in a year to power 100 conventional delivery vehicles.”
The UPS alternative fuel fleet utilizes multiple technologies, including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, electricity and hydraulic hybrid technology.
