OVERVIEW

UPS operates one of the largest private alternative fuel fleets in its industry, which includes more than 2,500 vehicles. However, these vehicles are based on technology that goes beyond the common names you hear thrown around such as "fuel cell," "biodiesel" and "hybrid." UPS utilizes vehicles that operate on compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, hydrogen fuel cell, electric and hybrid electric power plants.

UPS developed and continues to enhance its fleet using a "rolling laboratory" philosophy – using its alternative fuel fleet as a way to learn about how new technologies and advancements can be adapted for use in a large delivery fleet. While maintaining its current alternative fuel vehicles, UPS is also working with manufacturers, government agencies and non-profit organizations to advance new fuel technologies.

FLEET SPECIFICS

Hydraulic Hybrid

In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the world's first Full Hydraulic Hybrid Urban Delivery Vehicle. The EPA, UPS, Eaton, International Truck and Engine, and the U.S. Army National Automotive Center partnered to build this unique UPS truck with a full-series hydraulic hybrid drive train that has been patented by EPA.

Hybrid hydraulic technology includes two power sources that propel the vehicle – a small fuel-efficient diesel combustion engine and hydraulic components. Hydraulic hybrid technology replaces a conventional drive train with a hydraulic one, which eliminates the need for a mechanical transmission and driveline.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles

UPS has researched and tested hybrid electric technology since 1998. In 2000, the company deployed a hybrid electric vehicle in its Huntsville, Ala. operations on a 31-mile route, making 150 pickups and deliveries each day. UPS deployed a second-generation HEV that operated in Kalamazoo, Mich. for several months during 2004.  In 2007, UPS deployed 50 third-generation hybrid electric vehicles in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Phoenix. In 2010, UPS deployed 200 HEVs to Austin, Houston, Long Island, Minneapolis, Louisville, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Chicago. In 2011, UPS deployed another 129 HEVs to cities in California, New York, New Jersey and one in Hong Kong.

These vehicles promise a 35 percent improvement in fuel economy over the vehicles they are replacing. The 379 vehicles are expected to collectively reduce fuel consumption by hundreds of thousands of gallons annually and reduce CO2 by thousands of metric tons annually.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 

UPS was the first in the package delivery industry to introduce alternative fuel tractors into its fleet. The company currently operates 59 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tractor-trailers within the company's West Coast fleet. The tractor-trailers operate between Ontario, California and Las Vegas. As a fuel, LNG is very dense, providing a large amount of energy for the amount of space it occupies. This makes LNG an excellent potential fuel for large trucks that need to travel a long distance before refueling.   

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) 

UPS has one of the largest private fleets of CNG vehicles in the U.S., with more than 1,093 package delivery vehicles. UPS began extensively using CNG in 1989 to assess its benefits and viability as an alternative fuel. The results have been impressive: particulate emissions are 95 percent lower than with diesel engines; carbon monoxide emissions are 75 percent lower; and emissions of nitrogen oxides are 49 percent lower.  In January 2010, UPS deployed an additional 245 CNG vehicles in the United States.

UPS operates CNG vehicles in the United States, Germany, Chile, Thailand, the Netherlands and Brazil.

Electric Vehicles 

UPS's first foray into alternative fuel vehicles was with a fleet of electric vehicles that operated in New York in the 1930's. The company also operated an electric car in Santiago, Chile in 2001. Additionally, UPS tested 13 zero emission electric minivans in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. These vehicles had a range of 80 to 90 miles and were primarily used to make Next Day Air deliveries and pickups.

In 2004 and 2005, UPS introduced two electric vehicles into its fleet. These zero emission vehicles currently operate in Manhattan, NY.  Additionally, there are 27 electric vehicles operating in Europe.

Propane-Powered Engines 

UPS operates more than 650 propane-powered delivery vehicles in Canada and Mexico. Propane's low pollution characteristics and positive performance have made it a viable choice for inclusion in UPS's alternative fuel fleet.

Ethanol

In 2011, UPS deployed 45 ethanol-powered delivery vehicles in Brazil, where production of this alternative fuel is plentiful.