With hybrid vehicles making the most sense for city driving, we’ve often wondered why automakers don’t produce hybrid versions of their cargo vans, which are widely used for city deliveries. The gas-saving potential is enormous, and at least one company has seen the light. UPS has announced that it has purchased 500 alternative-fuel vehicles.
200 of those vehicles will be diesel-electric hybrids while the remaining 300 will run on compressed natural gas.
According to UPS, the switch to alternative fuel vehicles will save 176,000 gallons of fuel per year, which is roughly the equivalent to taking 100 UPS trucks off the road. Moreover, the trucks powered by compressed natural gas will reduce truck emissions by 20 percent.
UPS has also adopted a ‘no left turn rule’, which prevents trucks from just idling while waiting to make a turn — thereby reducing emissions.
While the new trucks have green intentions, they will be painted brown just like the rest of the company’s fleet.
