UPS to Expand ‘Green Fleet’ with 50 Hybrid Trucks

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PS Inc. said Friday it had placed an order for 50 hybrid electric delivery trucks and would acquire 4,100 low-emission conventional vehicles this year.

The hybrids are being purchased in two sizes from International Truck and Engine and Freightliner LLC.

The trucks will have lithium batteries that are capable of faster re-charging and have a longer life than previous-generation hybrid batteries, UPS said. The trucks’ bodies will be identical to the company’s signature brown trucks.

The first of the 50 trucks will be deployed in Dallas in June and will join more than 10,000 low-emission and alternative-fuel vehicles already in use.

UPS said its alternative fuel fleet of 1,500 vehicles includes trucks powered by compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, electricity and hydrogen.

The company said it is taking part in research also with the Environmental Protection Agency on a hydraulic hybrid drivetrain.

UPS is ranked No. 1 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.