UPS drives one billion miles in its alternative fuel fleet

UPS has driven one billion miles in its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet, reaching its sustainability goal a year earlier than planned.

The logistics firm set the goal of reaching 1 billion alternative-fuelled miles by 2017 back in 2012 and around 12 per cent of its conventional diesel and gasoline fuelled fleet is now being replaced with alternative fuels including renewable natural gas and renewable diesel.

UPS deploys more than 7,200 vehicles as part of its ‘Rolling Laboratory’, which it uses to determine which fuel and transport options work best for each situation.

Since 2009 the firm has invested almost $750 million in sustainable technologies and has said it will continue to work with partners to expand the development and utilisation of alternative fuels and infrastructure across the world.

David Abney, UPS CEO, said: “We had a big sustainability goal as we set out to make the most of our rolling laboratory by driving 1 billion clean miles in alternative fuel vehicles – that’s the equivalent of well over 4,000 trips to the moon. While attaining this goal is new, our commitment to seeking out alternative fuels actually dates back to the 1930s when UPS tested electric vehicles. With more than 100,000 drivers logging more than 3 billion miles per year, our future depends on our ability to meet the growing demand for global trade while reducing our impact on the environment.”

Mike Whitlatch, UPS vice president of global energy and procurement, said: “The question wasn’t should we make alternative fuels work? Instead, it was ’What’s the best way to make alternative fuels work for UPS, and for the environment?’ After more than a decade of focus, we are now driving more than 1 million miles globally each business day in our alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet.”

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