Brown Goes Green

UPS and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced that new technology will be developed to convert UPS package delivery vehicles from diesel to electric. UPS and Unique Electric Solutions LLC (UES), Smithtown, NY,  will design, build, test and make the conversions.

NYSERDA is providing $500,000 in funding to develop and test the conversion system. If successful, the Bronx-based project is expected to bring a production version of the converted truck to the streets of New York City by Spring 2018. In addition to producing a new all-electric conversion kit, the project will deliver a blueprint for converting up to three UPS vehicles a day. This could lead to the conversion of up to 1500 UPS delivery trucks, which is about 66% of UPS’s fleet operating in New York City by 2022.

The conversions will be based on electric vehicle technology developed by Unique Electric Solutions. The core system features a 225 kW Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM) with a high voltage back bone optimized for the duty cycle of UPS delivery trucks.

UPS said it currently operates more than 770 electric or hybrid electric vehicles in urban settings around the world, part of a fleet of more than 8500 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles worldwide. UPS recently set a goal that by 2020 one in four vehicles purchased annually will use alternative fuels or advanced technology. The company has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally since 2009.

UES LLC produces and upfits electric propulsion and power systems for commercial trucks. With UPS as its partner-customer, the company is commercializing two products; a Class 5-7 all-electric drive system and an anti-idling system for Class 3-8 vehicles. UES leverages its proprietary  control algorithms, vehicle controllers and battery management systems to enable the integration of  reliable, efficient and cost effective vehicle systems.  UES is currently focused on fleet operations in NYC while eyeing expansion to other large urban areas by 2019.