Currently, UPS has over 108,000 delivery vehicles deployed on routes around the world, with more than 770 of those that are powered by electric or hybrid motors. In light of that, the delivery company is planning to add to that number without having to buy any new vehicles.
UPS will team up with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to convert up to 1,500 diesel trucks to new all-electric systems. The programme that will be based in the Bronx in NYC, depends on US$500,000 from NYSERDA to develop and test the conversion system.
Apart from that, UPS and Unique Electric Solutions (UES) LLC, the transportation energy company will collaborate on the project. If all goes according to plan, the converted e-trucks will start running NYC UPS routes early next year.
The new UPS trucks will be outfitted with UES chassis kits, which will replace the conventional setup with a 225kW electric motor to the rigs. Additionally, the new system will make the vehicles up to 20% more energy efficient. Although UPS did not reveal a range estimate for the converted trucks, UES mentioned that its unique electric vehicle (EV) chassis kit can offer between 40 to 125 miles per charge (depending on the configuration).
The project aims to perfect a system to convert up to three of the diesel trucks daily, with plans to transform about 1,500 vehicles by 2022. By embracing electrification, UPS also made a public goal stating that one in four vehicles purchased by 2020 will run on alternative fuels or any other alternative technology options. Due to this, the company has already begun to make good on its comments, buying 200 hybrid trucks in October and queuing up as the first customer for Daimler’s new all-electric FUSO delivery trucks.
Furthermore, the new delivery vehicles could mark an important new practice for companies that manage massive fleets of diesel-powered vehicles. If the program is a success, we might see even more conversion programs put into practice as every industry that relies on internal combustion engines shift their focus to electricity.
