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The UPS Hybrid Truck Fleet

Well you can’t exactly rent one of these hybrid trucks but it’s interesting nonetheless that corporate America is embracing hybrid car technology. Why, then, would a major company like UPS make a move that seems more costly than traditional options? What residual benefits are they finding from their new hybrid truck fleet and what features make this move so exciting?

Why Hybrid?

It’s fairly common knowledge that hybrid vehicles have a higher up-front cost. However, even the financial bottom line is happy with the UPS hybrid truck fleet. With gas prices soaring, fuel costs are a major expense, especially companies that are built around moving goods, like UPS. The company expects to quickly realize their investment in fuel economy savings.

How It Works

Unlike some of the hybrid technology that is used on passenger vehicles, UPS has favored a fairly new type of hybrid vehicle: the hydraulic diesel motor. This design allows the engine to power off when the trucks are stopped or slowing down, saving significantly on fuel cost- as much as half. In addition, the estimates indicate that the emissions from the UPS hybrid truck fleet are as much as a third of that of a more standard engine.

How Many?

UPS purchased the hydraulic diesel hybrid delivery trucks from Eaton and Navistar. The initial fleet consists of seven hybrid vehicles. The company plans to add more of the trucks to the fleet, especially if and when the manufacturer can get production costs low enough to make the initial investment more affordable. At this point, UPS is paying $7,000 more for the hybrid vehicles as they do for their more traditional brown delivery trucks. If cost comes down, using the hydraulic diesel engines on a wider basis will be more financially feasible. In addition, lower maintenance costs may actually pay for the increased overhead in about a three-year period, according to an expert at the EPA.

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