UPS and Electric Vehicles International Begin Demonstration of Fully Electric Walk-In Van
03 September 2010
UPS has begun a 90-day demonstration trial of the Electric Vehicles International (EVI) walk-in van (EVI-WI). The EVI-WI is built on a Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) glider equipped with a Utilimaster body. (Earlier post.)
Over the past year, EVI and UPS have worked together to develop a vehicle to meet the needs of the parcel delivery service industry. Earlier this year, EVI received California Air Resource Board (CARB) approval for the EVI-WI. Customers who purchase the EVI-WI can take advantage of a $20,000 CARB rebate through the Hybrid Truck and Bus Incentive Project (HVIP).
The 90-day demonstration process with UPS will be split into three 30-day, smaller demonstrations in vastly different regional locations. The vehicle demonstration will begin in Sacramento, followed by San Francisco and concluding in Reno.
The drivetrain for the EVI-WI combines a 99 kWh Li-ion battery pack from Valence, a 150 kW (continuous), 200 kW (peak electric motor) and a five speed automatic manual transmission with PTO. Expected average range is 90 miles (145 km), and maximum speed is 60 mph (97 km/h).
Stop talking about range and add a tiny generator to make the battery cheaper and the vehicle cheaper. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 03 September 2010 at 03:30 PM
Amen, HG.
Also, UPS drivers follow regular routes, so could use battery swapping 1/2 way thru their route, as needed.
Posted by: danm | 04 September 2010 at 07:19 AM
Making UPS trucks run on CNG would clean up emissions, reduce fuel bills and reduce oil imports. They could make them hybrid as well for even more savings. Once they see that they cut the fuel bill in half with CNG and cut in half again with electric, they may come on board. Cost reductions speak louder than environment to business. Once they get going they can let everyone know what good guys they are and benefit from that as well.
Posted by: SJC | 07 September 2010 at 02:47 PM