UPS to Convert 66% of its NYC Delivery Trucks to Electric

What can brown do for you? Howzabout switching to alternative energy? In the land of Yankees, Metropolitans, and Seinfeld.

UPS and Unique Electric Solutions LLC (UES LLC) will work to convert the famously wood-hued delivery trucks from diesel to electric. Unique Energy Solutions’ system will feature a 225kW Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM), and overall, it allegedly boosts energy efficiency by up to 20%.

Meanwhile, The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will pony up $500,000 to develop and test the conversion system, with the goal of releasing a finished electric delivery truck by Spring of next year, and at the rate of three converted UPS vehicles a day, the project could eventually switch over 1,500 trucks – 66% of UPS's NYC fleet – by 2022.

And as the cultural capital of the US – not to mention fiercely densely-populated – NYC is the perfect guinea pig for this conversion technology.

“This program will help UPS develop and deploy electric delivery trucks faster and more affordably,” said Carlton Rose, President, global fleet maintenance and engineering, UPS. “Because they are cleaner and quieter, electric vehicles are ideal for dense urban environments like New York City and are a critical part of our strategy for the future.”

Read more about this development here and here: https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=PressReleases&id=1510239934903-452