UPS is now interested in converting its entire fleet from diesel to electric. The company is partnering with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to develop new technology that will help switch its diesel-fueled fleet to electric.
In addition to working with NYSERDA, UPS will get $500,000 in funding to help develop the new technology. Both hope that the technology will be ready for production usage for spring 2018, and by 2022, they hope to convert over 1,500 trucks to electric. That’s about 66 percent of the fleet that operates in the city.
Unique Electric Solutions is the company behind the development of technology that will help in the conversion, featuring a “225 kW Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) with a high voltage back bone optimized for the duty cycle of UPS delivery trucks.”
With the use of this technology, UPS hopes that by 2020, one in four of its fleet vehicles will be powered by electric, be hybrid, or alternate-fuel. The company already uses “more than 770 electric or hybrid electric vehicles” and “more than 8,500 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles worldwide.” Helping convert its fleet to electric will no doubt help save cost but also achieve other goals the company may have.
