UPS field tests hybrid energy vehicle
Date: 12-Nov-01
Country: USA
"This is an example of trying to do something for the company and the environment," Paula Fulford, a UPS spokeswoman in Atlanta, told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We started field testing this truck in Huntsville, Alabama, October 1 and that will continue through February."
The test vehicle runs on a combination of a small diesel engine, which powers the batteries that operate the engine, Fulford said. "The engine is a generator to power the batteries."
This way the UPS test truck uses less fuel and has lower emissions, Fulford said. Also, the driver can switch off the engine and just use battery power to run the vehicle.
An all electric operation would be useful in places like the Los Angeles Basin, which has severe emission regulations. After leaving the LA Basin, the driver "could switch back from electric to hybrid," Fulford said.
With its huge fleet, UPS is constantly looking for ways to improve the mileage, save on costs and help the environment, Fulford said. "We have a responsibility because of the size of our fleet."
PEI Electronics of Huntsville developed the hybrid vehicle with UPS, which is why the initial test is in Huntsville, Fulford said. Although UPS doesn't yet have enough data to evaluate, Fulford said one test is how well the driver likes the vehicle. She said, "It's a smooth ride."
A full evaluation will begin in March and then UPS will decide if it wants to expand operations of the hybrid vehicle. Fulford said UPS was not releasing any initial costs of the vehicle testing.
