UPS Adds 50 Hybrids to Fleet

22 May 2007

UPS is adding 50 hybrid electric delivery vehicles to its fleet. The new hybrids feature two different sized vehicles from Workhorse Custom Chassis and Freightliner, LLC and a medium-duty hybrid power system from Eaton Corporation. (Earlier post.)

The hybrid system uses a parallel, pre-transmission design. Primary components are the Hybrid Drive Unit (HDU), which combines a clutch, a 44 kW/420 Nm motor/generator and automatically controlled manual transmission; the motor inverter/controller; the DC/DC converter; and a 2 kWh li-ion battery pack.

UPS has agreed to work with the US Department of Energy Department over the course of 2007 to share the vehicles’ fuel economy, emissions and other performance data.

UPS expects the hybrids to deliver a 45% increase in fuel economy.

The UPS alternative fuel fleet currently includes trucks powered by compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane and electricity. UPS also has been testing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydraulic hybrid technology in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and others.