The Electric 2010 Ford Transit Connect

Azure Dynamics Corporation announced AT&T has agreed to purchase two of the first Ford Transit Connect Electric vans, the latest addition to AT&T’s growing fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles.

The Ford Transit Connect Electric — the all-electric version of the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, the North American Truck of the Year — will be powered by Azure Dynamics’ patented Force Drive(TM) electric drivetrain with an advanced lithium-ion battery from Johnson Controls-Saft. The vehicle, which goes on sale later this year, has a range of up to 80 miles on a single charge and will be rechargeable using either 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlets. It has a top speed of 75 miles per hour.

“Cleaner, alternative-fuel vehicles are the future of our corporate fleet, and the Transit Connect Electric represents a real breakthrough and will be a strong addition to our range of alternative-fuel vehicles,” said Jerome Webber, vice president of fleet operations at AT&T. “It’s exactly the kind of vehicle we envisioned when we mapped our long-term vision to invest up to $565 million to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles through 2018.” AT&T currently operates more than 77,000 vehicles in its corporate fleet, including 15 gasoline-powered Ford Transit Connect vehicles AT&T began piloting in 2009.

Scott T. Harrison, CEO of Azure Dynamics, said Transit Connect Electric project is in line with his company’s mission.

“Our business is built on great technology, committed partners and customers who want to improve efficiency while reducing their environmental footprint,” Harrison said. “The Transit Connect Electric brings all of those elements together in a single package and is exactly on target with our goal at Azure of ‘driving a world of difference.’”

According to Harrison, commercial vehicles are ideal candidates for electrification due to typical duty cycle characteristics like predictable drive routes and a return to a central location each night for recharging. The zero tailpipe emission Ford Transit Connect Electric also will help protect air quality in the urban environments where it operates.

By combining car-like driving dynamics with truck-like cargo capacity, Ford Transit Connect Electric is well-suited to the demands placed on urban delivery vehicles for small businesses and larger, corporate fleets.

The Transit Connect Electric is expected to offer lower cost of operation because recharging with electricity is generally less expensive than refueling with gasoline. Additionally, customers will benefit from lower maintenance costs as the electric drive train has far fewer moving parts to maintain.

“Ford Transit Connect was first introduced in the U.S. last year as a new fuel efficient alternative to larger commercial vehicles. Adding the electric option addresses a growing demand from our customers for sustainable vehicles for their fleets,” said Gerry Koss, Ford fleet marketing manager. “This Transit Connect Electric represents the first in a family of electrified vehicles, including new hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all battery electric vehicles, which Ford will deliver over the next three years.”

AT&T plans to take delivery of the Transit Connect Electric in late 2010.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

The company’s Sustainability Report, released Monday, show gains made in fleet-wide fuel economy (up from 25.3 in 2007 to 26.0 in 2008) as well as a reduction in CO2 emissions per mile, which fell by 3.4 percent. Those gains were in part due to the introduction of two new hybrid sedans, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan, which each get 41 mpg in the city. Ford is also accelerating plans for plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles, with the first models being rolled out starting next year.

Ford’s most significant improvement in sustainability came from reducing use of a liquid other than petroleum — water. Ford’s global water use dropped by 24 percent globally last year, thanks in part to a new parts washing system that eliminates an oily wastewater stream and reduces overall wastewater by 95 percent.

The company was candid about its model lineup in the sustainability report, stating that “In the past we allowed our portfolio to become too dependent on popular and profitable trucks and SUVs, missing opportunities to advance production of small and midsize cars.”

Ford says it will make more small cars and do an economic u-turn, making them into a profit center instead of a loss leader. Ford hopes to outpace the rising CAFE standards for fuel economy by introducing its EcoBoost technology, which can increase fuel economy by up to 20 percent, in three models this year.

However, Ford went into reverse in one important metric: the energy efficiency of its facilities. After dropping in both CO2 emissions per vehicle produced and energy consumption per vehicle in 2007, both figures actually rose to near 2006 levels. The company said it improved the energy efficiency in North America by4.5 percent, so international operations must have dropped much more sharply. That’s not acceptable for a company that needs to reduce costs and polish its green image.

Finally, during 2008, Ford joined the United Nations Global Compact, a “policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption,” according to the U.N. Ford claims to be the only manufacturing company participating in the UNGC’s Human Rights Working Group, a laudable achievement.

While most of the focus has been on the auto industry’s financial health and job losses, companies such as Ford are simultaneously becoming more sustainable, which is equally important.

John Gartner is Editor-in-Chief of Matter Network and an Industry Analyst for Pike Research

An aerodynamic Aptera plugin - 50% of avg cars energy is used pushing air out of the way at a rate of 55mph

WORCESTER, Mass. — Massachusetts drivers are increasingly going green as the number of registered hybrid vehicles in the state has increased by 36 percent during the past nine months. The timing couldn’t be better for those drivers as the state’s new managed competition system for auto insurance allows them, for the first time in state history, to take advantage of auto insurance discounts created especially for hybrid drivers from insurers such as Travelers of Massachusetts.

According to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles, there are currently 22,353 registered hybrid cars in Massachusetts, up from 16,477 in July of 2007, for an increase of 36 percent. Hybrid cars are generally defined as vehicles that use gasoline and an alternative fuel source such as electric or fuel cell.

Travelers introduced the hybrid discount option to stay ahead of one of the fastest-growing markets in the industry. Providing the right insurance solutions that are in-synch with today’s environmentally conscious individuals is one way Travelers of Massachusetts is meeting the needs of its customers.

“Travelers of Massachusetts is pleased to offer a discount up to 10 percent on auto insurance to Massachusetts’ hybrid drivers,” said Dick Welch, president of Travelers of Massachusetts. “Ever since Travelers wrote the nation’s first automobile policy back in 1897, the company has been committed to meeting the evolving needs of the consumer with innovative insurance products. Protecting the environment and conserving natural resources are important principles to us and Travelers of Massachusetts is proud to do our part to encourage the use of fuel efficient vehicles.”

To learn more about the hybrid discount, Travelers has launched a Web site specifically for hybrid enthusiasts at www.hybridtravelers.com. The site features federal and state incentives for hybrid owners and information on how to take advantage of the hybrid discount.

Travelers of Massachusetts is the “umbrella” brand name for all personal insurance policies issued by a Travelers company in Massachusetts. Homeowners policies are written by The Phoenix Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Standard Fire Insurance Company, and The Travelers Commercial Insurance Company. Auto policies are written by The Premier Insurance Company of Massachusetts, an independent, single-state subsidiary of The Travelers Indemnity Company. For more information, visit www.travelersma.com.

About Travelers

Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve agents, brokers and policyholders is to deliver insurance that evolves to stay in-synch with life and business as they change. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading property casualty insurance company selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of insurance coverage in both the personal and commercial settings, including auto, homeowners, construction, small business, oil and gas, ocean marine, surety and management liability, global technology and public sector services. Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2007 revenues of $26 billion and total assets of $115 billion. The company has approximately 33,000 employees.

WARRENVILLE, Ill. – As the world becomes more vigilant and active about key environmental issues, many industries have renewed commitments to green initiatives.

One group that has been steadily improving the environmental landscape is the commercial transportation industry. The industry has traditionally been thought of as unfriendly to the environment, but new technology has transformed many of today’s trucks and buses into environmentally responsible forms of transportation.

Below is a list of the top five things that the public may not realize about green transportation:

5. American Idle – Do Trucks Really Need to Idle at Truck Stops?

Thousands of commercial trucks transport goods from coast-to-coast and keep our nation’s economy going. And when it’s time to stop for a rest, the trucks can’t always be turned off. While parked at truck stops, drivers eat and sleep in their truck cabs and need power to run air conditioning, heaters, microwaves, radios, TVs and even computers (to work on their business). The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that, each year, trucks use 10 percent of diesel fuel idling – costing nearly $10 billion annually and emitting countless amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The good news is that new technology provides trucks the necessary in-cab power without needing engines to idle. A MaxxPowerTM auxiliary power unit (APU) from Navistar provides truck drivers with a best-in-class power system that can save each truck more than $7,000 in fuel costs each year because the trucks will not need to idle to produce power. No idling means less diesel fuel used. The APU can produce the power many trucks rely on while using only two-tenths of a gallon per hour.

Environmental product: Auxiliary Power Unit

Fuel savings: 1,920 gallons(1) annually per truck

Financial savings: $7,600(1) annually per truck

Environmental advantage: Significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions (in idle mode), reduced fuel use

((1) Savings based on 2,400 hours idle time/year; 0.8 gallon/hour savings; national average diesel price of $3.97 on 3/17/08)

4. Are Semi-Trucks Fuel-Guzzlers?

It requires a substantial amount of fuel for trucks to haul goods across the country. And because semi-trucks operate most of the journey at highway speeds, air resistance is a major inhibitor to fuel economy. Not all trucks are fuel-guzzlers, though. New advances in truck design allow for more aerodynamic, fuel-efficient travel. The International® ProStarTM is the most fuel efficient semi-truck on the road today, achieving a fuel savings of more than $5,000 per truck. The fuel savings is based on traveling 144,000 miles annually and when compared to a leading competitor. It results in a whopping 1,300 gallons of fuel saved each year – per truck. The ProStar and the new International LoneStar both feature aerodynamic designs that make a big difference both in reducing diesel fuel consumption as well as lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

ProStar is designated an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay™ solution. If 30 percent of new trucks sold were SmartWay tractor-trailer combinations, the EPA estimates that more than a million barrels of oil would be saved a year – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.2 million tons.

The new SmartWay combination tractor-trailer meets EPA’s health-based 2007 air pollution standards for heavy-duty diesel engines, achieving significant reductions in NOx, particulate matter and other air pollutants.

Along with idle management products such as the MaxxPower APU and cleaner diesel engines, today’s semi-trucks are more environmentally responsible than ever before.

Environmental product: Aerodynamic semi-trucks

Fuel savings: More than 1,300 gallons annually per truck (ProStar)

Financial savings: More than $5,000 annually per truck (ProStar)

Environmental advantage: Reduced fuel use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions

3. We Have Hybrid Cars, Why Not Hybrid Trucks?

Hybrid trucks actually are in production today. In fact, Navistar is the first company to enter full assembly line production of hybrid commercial trucks. To date, the company has built more that 100 hybrid trucks that are in service by more than a dozen major utility companies, including Florida Power & Light, Exelon and American Electric Power.

The International DuraStarTM Hybrid can provide dramatic fuel savings of 30 to 40 percent in many applications. Fuel efficiency can increase to more than 60 percent in utility-type applications. Diesel emissions are completely eliminated when the hybrid truck operates equipment (such as overhead utility booms) solely on the truck’s battery power, instead of allowing the engine to idle.

Navistar also partnered with the EPA, the U.S. Army, UPS and Eaton Corporation to develop the first-ever series of diesel hydraulic hybrid urban delivery vehicles. Last year, Navistar received the 2007 Blue Sky Award from WestStart-CALSTART, the nation’s leading advanced transportation technology organization, for its contributions to the commercial development of diesel hybrid technology.

Environmental product: Hybrid trucks

Fuel savings: Nearly 1,000 gallons annually per truck

Financial savings: Nearly $4,000 per truck annually (The Energy Policy Act of 2005 also provides tax credits for hybrid commercial trucks of up to $12,000 per unit)

Environmental advantage: Lowered fuel use, elimination of greenhouse gas emissions (in idle mode)

2. School Buses Are Yellow, But Can They Be Green?

The school bus industry is getting better grades for its environmental responsibility. The next generation of school bus is much greener than the school bus in years past. With clean diesel technology, today’s engines are more fuel efficient and emit significantly less pollutants. Plus, each school bus can take approximately 30 to 60 cars off of the road during peak rush hour times. If every parent drove their kids to and from school, the traffic congestion, pollution and fuel use would not have a positive impact on the environment.

Now, the leading school bus manufacturer, IC Bus, is producing the nation’s only line of hybrid school buses. These hybrid school buses improve fuel efficiency by up to 70 percent and also reduce diesel emissions by up to 70 percent. The school buses are “plugged in” at night, charging the electric motor that is part of the hybrid system. The electric motor and the diesel engine work effectively together during operation of the school bus, resulting in the lower emissions and increased fuel efficiency.

Environmental product: Hybrid school buses

Fuel savings: 800 gallons annually per bus

Financial savings: $3,000 annually per bus

Environmental advantage: Lowered fuel use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, fewer cars on the road

1. Aren’t Diesel Engines Smoky and Noisy?

Diesel engines are no longer the smoky, noisy polluters that many people remember from earlier eras. Today’s diesel engines meet strict EPA emissions requirements. With diesel fuel, drivers can get 40 percent more miles to the gallon than gasoline. Plus, diesel engines burn cleaner due to reformulated diesel fuel introduced in 2007 called Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel.

In 2007, new diesel engines were introduced that eliminate more than 90 percent of particulate and hydrocarbon emissions, leaving the exhaust smokeless, odorless and much cleaner for the environment. In 2010, diesel engines will be even cleaner, with aggressive “near-zero” emissions goals.

Navistar’s new MaxxForceTM mid-range diesel engines are 9-13 percent more fuel efficient. In fact, MaxxForce 7 and MaxxForce DT engines include a fuel efficiency guarantee. If customers don’t experience improvement in fuel economy over their previous engines, they are eligible to be refunded the difference (up to $1,000).

Environmental product: Green diesel engines

Fuel savings: 9-13 percent (for MaxxForce 7 and MaxxForce DT engines)

Financial savings: Variable, based on actual truck use

Environmental advantage: Lowered fuel use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions

About Navistar

Navistar International Corporation (Other OTC: NAVZ) is a holding company whose wholly owned subsidiaries produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce™ brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine parts and service. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com.

“Weight reduction can play a key role in enabling the transportation industry and members of its supply chain to meet their sustainability objectives. Aluminum is one of the most viable light-weighting options available to Original Equipment Manufacturers in all areas of transport for weight reduction applications,” Scheps said.

He cited a world aluminum industry report which stated the application of aluminum in vehicles manufactured in 2006 will lead to potential savings of approximately 140 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions and to energy savings equivalent to 60 billion liters of crude oil over the lifecycle of these vehicles.

Alcoa Leading the Way

Scheps said that Alcoa is a leader in innovation of aluminum to reduce weight applications in all areas of transit. He described Alcoa’s partnership with China’s largest bus manufacturer, Zhengzhou Yutong, to design a lightweight, energy efficient aluminum bus that will be on the road in time for the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.

“We anticipate a 1500 kg (about 3,300 pound) weight reduction with the use of an aluminum space frame, wheels and aluminum body panels on the bus, resulting in 50-80 tons of emissions saved per bus over its lifetime,” he said.

Scheps also said that heavy-duty trucks could potentially be 4000-4500 pounds lighter by increasing aluminum usage in various applications.

“Aluminum plays a critical role in making vehicles safer, cleaner, and more fuel efficient, but it also provides cost savings for OEMS because of increased payload, reduced maintenance, and longer service life, because aluminum is less corrosive than steel and is fully recyclable,” said Scheps.

Aluminum’s Cradle to Cradle Sustainability

Scheps also pointed out the sustainability aspects of aluminum and the metal’s significant benefits in both the use stage and in the recycling stage of a vehicle.

“Aluminum is greener than ever. It can be recycled endlessly with no degradation. Fifty billion used beverage cans are recycled into auto and truck parts in the U.S. every year; recycling one ton of metal saves 9 tons of CO2; and over 90% of aluminum used in vehicles is recycled today.”

About Alcoa

Alcoa (NYSE: AA) is the world leader in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina combined, through its active and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa’s businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems. The Company has 97,000 employees in 34 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.

The Governor was greeted by Porsche AG’s Chief Engineer, Wolfgang Duerheimer, who explained that the Lohner-Porsche, as it was called, was the first advanced electric car and the technological star of the 1900 Paris Auto Show. Ferdinand Porsche soon after developed the world’s first hybrid automobile when he added a combustion engine to recharge the electric car’s batteries.

This was the first time the Lohner-Porsche had ever been shown outside of Europe.

“The fact we do this in California is as timely as it is appropriate,” said Duerheimer. “After all, much of the drive of zero-emission automobiles gets its momentum from this state and its governor, who happens to come from the same country, Austria, as this Lohner-Porsche.”

This early “green” car was shown along side Porsche’s new modern Cayenne Hybrid, which debuted in the United States at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Cayenne Hybrid will be available in the Porsche line up by the end of the decade and uses a unique “parallel” full hybrid system that will reduce fuel consumption by approximately 33 percent from the normal V6 Cayenne model being sold today. Gov. Schwarzenegger, guided by Duerheimer, studied the Cayenne’s advanced hybrid system in a special “see-through” model that is also on display at the LA show.

PETALUMA, CA., Nov 13, 2007 – It will be a green holiday this season for United Parcel Service (UPS), who rolled out a small parcel delivery service this week in Northern California using 42 electric cars and trucks from ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP).

The UPS branch in Petaluma, California has leased an initial fleet of 42 ZAP Xebra® electric city cars and trucks for their small parcel deliveries. This is the first time that UPS has used electric city-speed vehicles for this purpose.

Brown Goes Green – UPS rolled out an electric car and truck fleet from ZAP this week to help with small parcel deliveries in dense urban communities. The move was made to reduce fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions.

Small parcel deliveries are becoming more challenging for the trademark big, brown UPS delivery vans, which is why UPS is using the electric city cars and trucks to handle small parcel deliveries. The ZAP vehicles lessen fuel consumption and reduce automotive emissions produced by current delivery vehicles. Drivers will be monitoring their electrical usage to carefully analyze cost-savings and emissions reductions.

“This is the missing link for small package deliveries in congested areas,” said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. “Packages go from the airplanes, to the tractor trailers, to the delivery vans, then to the drop-off nodes. From there the ZAP trucks make the final delivery to the consumer in a zero-emission vehicle that costs less to operate. It’s a perfect example of how green technology can help corporate America’s bottom line.”

UPS is setting up strategic distribution nodes where vans can transfer packages to the ZAP Xebras for final delivery in smaller communities, neighborhoods and downtown areas where larger delivery vans are less efficient and have a more difficult time navigating or parking.

“ZAP vehicles are much better than full size trucks in urban areas because they can save a fleet operator money,” said ZAP Chairman Gary Starr. “Electric vehicles can also be one of the best things any organization can do to cut greenhouse gases and help the environment.”

A publicly owned automotive manufacturer and distributor based in nearby Santa Rosa, California, ZAP specializes in energy-efficient transportation technologies. The ZAP Xebra was designed as an economical electric city car that can handle city-speed driving up to 40 MPH for daily urban driving, commuting as well as light duty government and corporate fleet applications. ZAP cars and trucks are believed to be the only 40 MPH street-legal electric vehicles available in production today and sell for a little over $10,000 with a cost of about three cents per mile for electricity. Studies show that electric vehicles reduce automotive emissions by more than 90 percent compared to gasoline vehicles, including the emissions from power plants.

Available for the estimated $7 billion US Market in a full range of performance levels and viscosities, G-OIL is safe to use in any gasoline, diesel, or hybrid engine. It’s the first bio-based, high-endurance motor oil to provide superior performance during the maximum oil change interval recommended by vehicle manufacturers.

An estimated four gallons of foreign oil can be saved with each G-Oil five quart oil change. In the manufacture of traditional petroleum-based motor oil, it takes nearly three barrels of oil to make one barrel of product; whereas Green Earth scientists have developed a way to yield one barrel of product from one barrel of animal fat.

G-OIL is manufactured from tallow acquired from American farmers. Tallow is culled from beef and has been used to make animal feed, soap, and no longer used for cooking. G-OIL is made utilizing a proprietary process that converts tallow from a solid raw material into completely biodegradable motor oil for gasoline and diesel engines as well as hybrid cars.

G-OIL was launched to retailers at the 2007 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), the world’s largest trade show for the $267 billion automotive aftermarket industry, being held last week at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas.

ABOUT GREEN EARTH TECHNOLOGIES:

Green Earth Technologies (GET) produces “G” branded, superior performing, totally green products made entirely from America-grown base oils, and utilizes the power of nanotechnology to deliver environmentally friendly products with no compromise. GET’s family of products are offered in a range of categories, including automotive performance and appearance chemicals, marine performance and appearance chemicals, household cleaning solutions, and lawn & garden chemicals. Please visit www.getg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about GET and its brands.

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., a leader in diagnostic and medical imaging systems, announces its commitment to replacing the company’s entire fleet of sedans for its sales and service teams with hybrid cars over the next three years. As part of Toshiba Corporation’s global environmental initiative, Toshiba chose the Toyota Camry Hybrid to replace one-third of the current gas-only fleet each year. The first set of hybrid cars is scheduled to arrive in mid-to-late November 2007 and will be used by service and sales managers and account executives.

“Toshiba Corporation takes its responsibility to the environment seriously as evidenced by the current Newsweek Japan CSR rankings where Toshiba Corporation has the top spot in Japan and is ranked number five worldwide,” said Larry Dentice, senior vice president and general manager, Toshiba America Medical Systems. “Here in the U.S., Toshiba’s move to hybrid cars reflects the company’s deep commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, including the reduction of CO₂ emissions.”

With the addition of the Toyota Camry Hybrids, Toshiba expects to reduce fleet CO₂ emissions by 25,000 pounds and save approximately $3 thousand to $4 thousand in fuel savings over the lifecycle of each vehicle.

“The hybrids will take us closer to our goal of reducing emissions in logistics from company cars and freight by one percent each year,” said Paul Biggins, director of Regulatory Affairs and head of the TAMS’ Environmental Affairs Committee. “This is another step towards making Toshiba a more socially and environmentally responsible company.”

Toshiba Corporation has set a global goal of reducing its energy-originated CO₂ emissions by 25 percent by 2010 as well as non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2010.

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced it was adding 306 alternative fuel vehicles to its “green fleet” by placing an order for 167 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) delivery trucks while taking delivery of 139 new propane delivery trucks in North America. Additionally, the company has launched an initiative to use biodiesel fuel in its ground support vehicles at the UPS Worldport® air hub in Louisville.

The CNG trucks will be deployed early next year in Dallas, Atlanta and four California cities — Los Angeles, Ontario, San Ramon and Fresno. They will join more than 800 such vehicles already in use in the United States. The propane vehicles are joining nearly 600 propane trucks already operating in Canada and Mexico.

“While there’s a great deal of interest in the research we’re doing with new types of hybrids, 70 years of testing alternative fuel vehicles has taught us there are multiple technologies that can effectively reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as well as our carbon footprint,” said Robert Hall, UPS’s director of vehicle engineering. “Adding this many propane and CNG vehicles is going to have a very positive impact.”

UPS’s global alternative-fuel fleet now stands at 1,629 vehicles — the largest such private fleet in the transportation industry – and includes CNG, liquefied natural gas, propane and electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The company also is working with the Environmental Protection Agency on a hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicle.

The propane and CNG trucks currently in the UPS fleet were converted from gasoline and diesel vehicles in the 1980s to run on alternative fuels. The new trucks are originally manufactured for alternative fuel use.

The chassis for the CNG trucks are being purchased in two sizes from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. The trucks will feature engines from Cummins Westport that are expected to yield a 20 percent emissions reduction and 10 percent improvement in fuel economy over the cleanest diesel engines available in the market today. The truck bodies will be identical externally to the signature-brown trucks that now comprise the UPS fleet and will be marked as CNG vehicles.

The new propane-powered vehicles were manufactured by Workhorse Custom Chassis and feature the latest technology in clean-burning propane engines provided by Baytech Corporation. Propane vehicles emit about one-third fewer reactive organic gases than gasoline-fueled vehicles. Nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions also are 20 percent and 60 percent less, respectively, than conventional vehicles.

The UPS propane vehicles will run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) provided at eight on-site fueling stations at UPS facilities in Canada. LPG is derived from petroleum during oil or natural gas processing and is cleaner-burning than regular gasoline.

The biodiesel initiative in Louisville is being launched with the support of a $515,000 federal grant that is helping offset some of the cost of building a fuel infrastructure at the airport. The infrastructure will provide a 5 percent biodiesel blend of fuel to run 366 ground support vehicles starting early next year.

Biodiesel is a clean-burning diesel replacement fuel that can be used in compression-ignition engines. It is manufactured from U.S.-produced oils such as soybean oil, recycled cooking oils or animal fats. The use of biodiesel reduces particulate matter, carbon emissions and volatile organic compounds.

UPS, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary, began deploying alternative fuel vehicles in the 1930s with a fleet of electric trucks that operated in New York City. The company’s “green fleet” has traveled 126 million miles just since 2000.

While continuing to develop its alternative fuel fleet — UPS already has invested more than $15 million in the effort — the company also has purchased and is operating nearly 20,000 low-emission conventional vehicles. These vehicles have regular gas- and diesel-powered engines but employ the very latest technology and manufacturing techniques to reduce emissions as much as possible.

“Deploying alternative fuel vehicles and exploring renewable energy sources like biodiesel are just two of the many ways UPS actively pursues its commitment to sustainable business practices,” said Hall. “We have always believed that working green and working smart are synonymous.”

UPS pursues a wide range of socially responsible and sustainable business practices designed to reduce our impact on the environment and improve communities around the world. UPS is included in the Dow Jones and FTSE4Good Sustainability Indexes, which evaluate corporations based on economic, environmental and social criteria. Learn more about UPS’s responsible business practices at www.sustainability.ups.com.