UPS Tests EVI-WI Vans

As one of the largest fleet operators in the world, UPS is currently weighing its options and tries to find the alternative-powered vans which will best suit its needs. Already conducting several test runs in the US, the company announced today it will begin another project in partnership with Electric Vehicles International (EVI).

The 90-day trial will see UPS testing EVI's walk-in electric vans (WI) in three stages, divided in between Sacramento, San Francisco and Reno.

The EVI-WI are built on the chassis of the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) glider and is wrapped in a Utilimaster body. The batteries fitted on the van gives it an operating range of 90 miles (144 km) and a top speed of 60 mph (96 km/h). The GVWs range from class 4 to class 6. The Lithium-Iron batteries used in the van can take in between three and ten hours to recharge.

“UPS has been supporting emerging alternative fuel technologies since the 1930s with our first electric powered vehicles operating in New York City," said Mike Britt, director of Automotive Maintenance and Engineering.

"We currently operate over 2,000 alternative fuel vehicles worldwide with a variety of hybrid, electric and natural gas technologies. This project extends our commitment to addressing our environmental impact in the communities where we operate."

The vans offered by EVI, including the WI tested by UPS, have been granted approval earlier this year from the California Air Resource Board (CARB), meaning they are now eligible for a $20,000 CARB rebate through the Hybrid Truck and Bus Incentive Project (HVIP).