UPS is investing a lot of money into new truck technologies. Since 2009, the company has spent over $1 billion to improve vehicle technology. Its goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 12% by 2025. It has already reserved 125 Tesla electric semi-trucks, and has partnered with a Cincinnati-based design firm to create an electric delivery truck. Currently, UPS has more than 10,000 alternative-fuel vehicles in its fleet. In Europe, trucks are responsible for 27% of greenhouse gas emissions, and the United Kingdom has declared a goal of Net Zero pollution by 2050.
UPS has also partnered with Arrival, a technology company based in the UK, to produce electric trucks. The two companies conducted an experiment in 2018 with a few hundred electric trucks in Atlanta, Paris, and London. The two companies will begin rolling out the electric trucks in 2020, spending hundreds of millions of euros every year.
Will the New USPS Trucks Be Electric?
With the new Biden administration urging all federal agencies to electrify their fleet by 2035, the USPS is taking steps to move toward electrification. The company has ordered 50,000 new mail trucks worth $3 billion, with at least 20% of these trucks being electric. Although the new vehicles will have more advanced safety features and basic comforts such as air conditioning, fuel efficiency will be only marginally better than the current model.
The Postal Service is also under pressure from environmental activists and state governments to electrify its fleet of trucks. Several environmental groups and 16 states have filed lawsuits to prevent the agency from purchasing gas-powered vehicles. Environmental activists want the government to transition to electrification as soon as possible, and the company has said that it plans to electrify 10% of its fleet initially. The decision is being questioned, however, by some activists who are calling for a full switch-out.
The USPS had previously stated that it would purchase 50,000 gas-powered mail trucks and 34,500 “commercial off-the-shelf” vehicles over the next two years. It had originally planned to buy up to 14,500 of these vehicles, but increased that number to 10,000 in March. Now, the USPS plans to order an additional 33,800 electric trucks. In total, the Postal Service has around 212,000 gas-powered vehicles.
Who is Making Electric Trucks For UPS?
In its quest to reduce emissions, UPS is looking to electrify its fleet. It has deployed more than 300 electric trucks in Europe and ordered over 700 hybrid electric trucks. The company is working with the electric truck manufacturer Workhorse Group, Inc. to create a vehicle with zero tailpipe emissions and a battery range of at least 150 miles. The company has also ordered Tesla electric trucks and the Daimler Fuso eCanter electric medium-duty trucks.
The electric trucks that UPS is ordering will be smaller than gasoline-powered vehicles, and they look almost comically cute. These trucks will be available in North America and Europe from 2020. UPS plans to invest hundreds of millions of euros in this project and has the option to purchase up to another 10,000 trucks during the trial period.
The rush to electrify fleets is fueled by climate change concerns, government regulation, and advances in battery technology. It also comes at a time when package delivery is soaring amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the second quarter alone, UPS delivered up to 21.1 million packages per day, up 23 percent from a year ago. According to Avery Vise, vice president of FTR Transportation Intelligence, the demand for delivery trucks is likely to grow dramatically.
What Company Makes the UPS Delivery Trucks?
UPS has invested in several companies to produce its delivery vehicles. Some of these manufacturers include Morgan Olson, Grumman Olson, Union City Body, and Utilimaster. These companies make the bodies and chassis for UPS delivery vehicles. These vehicles vary in size and design depending on their route. Many of them have automatic transmission systems. Some trucks are based on a standard Ford P-chassis, while others have a Freightliner chassis. The engines are typically straight-six cylinders, but some have V6 or V8 engines. Overall, UPS has a fleet of over 100,000 delivery vehicles around the world.
The company uses a number of makes and models of trucks for their business, including the Fiat Ducato and Ram ProMaster. Moreover, UPS has a fleet of Modec electric vans in Germany. These electric vehicles were introduced by UPS in 2010. UPS also has a fleet of Ford-650 and LN8000 vehicles. In addition, the company has invested in Arrival, a British company that manufactures electric vehicles. Arrival’s electric vehicles will be more affordable than many diesel vehicles currently on the road.
Do UPS Trucks Have AC?
Recently, UPS workers protested against unsafe working conditions in New York City, holding a rally outside a Brooklyn distribution center. They called on the UPS leadership to install air conditioning in UPS trucks. Most competitors have air-conditioned delivery vehicles. However, the process of retrofitting UPS brown trucks to have A/C is costly and time-consuming. UPS workers have requested such a facility for years, but the company has yet to do so. The Teamsters Union, which represents over 350,000 UPS workers, has made the case that a change is necessary. Its members point to OSHA guidelines which recommend cooling as a preventative measure for heat-related illness.
The lack of air conditioning in most delivery trucks puts employees at risk of heat-related illnesses. The temperatures inside these vehicles can soar to dangerous levels, especially in the East and central U.S. Often, trucks must stop frequently to avoid overheating. It can be difficult to breathe, causing severe health issues. Drivers are also required to wear seat belts to protect themselves from the heat.
Why are Some UPS Trucks White?
Some UPS trucks are white, while others are brown. The UPS founder James Casey preferred a distinct color scheme for his motorized delivery vehicles. The founder’s parcel partner, Charlie Soderstrom, balked at the idea. In order to convey the message that UPS is a company with power, UPS adopted the unique color scheme. In the past, UPS competitors have attempted to mimic its color scheme, but UPS has defended its brand by trademarking a dark brown shade of its trucks.
UPS trucks are brown, with a brown-clad driver. Oftentimes, these vehicles are equipped with a spinning device on the roof, which rotates to move packages. UPS also uses a special system to monitor the delivery process in order to reduce the chance of theft and vandalism.
UPS trucks don’t have tinted windows or air conditioning. During warm weather, these trucks keep their doors open. Their tops are made from translucent material, which helps keep the cargo dry. Additionally, they are fitted with a wind-powered roof turbine. This turbine rotates to circulate fresh air and prevent heat from building up in the cargo compartment.
Why is USPS Buying Gas Vehicles?
The Postal Service has made a stunning announcement: it is buying a majority of its fleet of vehicles with gas-powered engines. This massive purchase is a blatant disregard of the Obama administration’s goal of electrifying the entire federal fleet. The Postal Service, led by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, has repeatedly resisted calls to replace its gas-powered fleet with electric vehicles, even though they would offer a slight fuel efficiency improvement.
The USPS responded to the criticism with a press release, stating that its initial order plan for gas vehicles is not a viable option, since the organization does not have the funds to purchase more EVs. The agency claims that the procurement plan is necessary because the USPS fleet is old and prone to fire. But this stance fails to address the question of whether the USPS’s plan is in line with the National Environmental Policy Act. The lawsuit claims that the plan is a gross violation of federal environmental laws.
The USPS is now facing a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and 16 state attorneys general, along with a dozen other organizations. These groups are claiming that the plan is based on unsupported assumptions and could damage the planet. These lawsuits aim to force the Postal Service to use accurate information in its fleet purchase decisions.
Why is USPS Getting New Trucks?
The USPS’s plans to buy electric trucks have prompted a great deal of debate. The company plans to purchase as many as 165,000 of the new trucks. These trucks will be custom designed and they will be about 10 percent electric. However, the company has faced opposition from environmentalists and the Biden administration over this plan. The EPA and White House Council on Environmental Quality have called for the USPS to reconsider its plans.
The USPS CEO has said that while the USPS is not opposed to electric vehicles, the company’s budget doesn’t allow for full electrification. However, the company may consider purchasing more EVs in the future. The agency’s new climate bill included $3 billion for EV purchases, contingent upon the passage of the bill. The USPS has long needed to replace its delivery vehicles. The current fleet is old and was purchased on the assumption that government-owned delivery vehicles would last a long time.
USPS plans to buy 84,500 electric trucks in late 2023. These trucks will contribute to the agency’s goal of having a 100 percent electric fleet by 2035. While the USPS has said that the switch to electric vehicles could save millions of dollars over the next decade, activists are demanding that the administration reverse its decision.
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