Nearly 2,000 strong, UPS has one of the largest private fleets of alternative-fuel vehicles. But some people ask – why not make the entire fleet of UPS trucks alternative fuel?
Good question. Here are some answers:
The technology for alternative-fuel vehicles is still evolving.
At UPS, we consider our alternative-fuel vehicle fleet a “rolling laboratory.” It includes compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid electric, electric and liquefied natural gas (LNG). We’re also testing hydraulic hybrid vehicles. Having a variety of vehicle types allows us to test the fleet in a variety of conditions, such as traffic, extreme climates and long distances. Because alternative-fuel technology is still relatively new, there’s some uncertainty over the vehicles’ lifespan. The current driving range of most alternative-fuel vehicles is limited – which means they cannot be used for most of UPS’s delivery routes. Investing in a diverse fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles will help us learn which vehicle types can eventually work best over a long-term period. It also supports the research conducted by manufacturers who are seeking ways to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.
Bio-fuels offer great potential for existing vehicles.
The technology behind bio-fuels is still emerging. But one day, bio-fuels may be compatible with our existing combustion engines. UPS Airlines recently added a blend of bio-fuel to power ground equipment that help load and transport cargo. Our hope is that we’ll be able to increase our reliability on the fuel as an energy source for other parts of our fleet. For some, bio-fuels are a provocative topic and UPS has a detailed view point which you can read at our Pressroom site.
Where can we fuel the vehicles? This is a crucial factor to consider. Fuel for some of these vehicles requires specially-constructed stations and right now, the infrastructure is lacking. It takes money, technical capabilities and time to properly build a network of fueling stations to support a large fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles.
Alternative-fuel fleets can’t be the complete answer.
Many people assume that a 100% alternative-fuel fleet would dramatically reduce UPS’s carbon footprint. In fact, gasoline and diesel vehicles represent only 37% of our total emissions. So it’s important that we continue to focus on fuel conservation, smart routing to reduce miles driven, new technologies, and fuel-efficiency improvements with our air fleet (which represent 53% of our emissions).
The technology for alternative-fuel vehicles holds a lot of promise. In the meantime, we’ll continue testing and learning … and adding to our fleet.
|Tags:||alternative fuels, alternative-fuel vehicles, carbon emissions, CNG, electric vehicles, Environment, green, LNG, sustainability, technology|