"Rolling Laboratory" of more than 7,200
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Helps Deliver on Sustainability
Innovations and Drive Market Adoption
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 4, 2016 /CNW/ -
UPS® (NYSE:UPS) today
announced the company has achieved its goal of driving one billion
miles in its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet one
year earlier than planned, and marked more than 10 years of
learning from its "Rolling Laboratory." UPS's long-term commitment
to sustainability is transforming commercial transportation and
logistics, spurring growth in the clean fuels market and powering
critical engineering advances. The company's wider sustainability
progress is detailed in the 14th annual Sustainability
Report, released today.
"We had a big sustainability goal as we set out to make the most
of our Rolling Laboratory by driving one billion clean miles in
alternative fuel vehicles – that's the equivalent of well over
4,000 trips to the moon," said David
Abney, Chairman and CEO, UPS. "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 three 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."
UPS deepened its commitment to alternative fuels in 2012, when
it set the goal of reaching one billion miles driven with
alternative fuels by the end of 2017. Shattering that goal one year
early, about 12 per cent of the conventional diesel and gasoline
fuel previously used by UPS's ground fleet is now being replaced by
alternative fuels including renewable natural gas and renewable
diesel.
"The question wasn't should we make alternative fuels work?"
said Mike Whitlatch, vice-president
of global energy and procurement, UPS. "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 one million miles globally each business day in our
alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet."
Recognizing alternative fuels and advanced technologies each
have unique advantages depending on the routes and geographies in
which they are used, UPS deploys the more than 7,200 vehicles in
the Rolling Laboratory to determine what works best in each
situation. From old-fashioned pedal power and electric-assisted
bicycles in dense urban areas like London and Hamburg to electric and hybrid electric
vehicles in the U.S., and natural gas, renewable natural gas and
propane globally, UPS is putting sustainability innovation into
action, all over the world.
"Many congested cities around the world are implementing zero
tailpipe emissions zones, and UPS is keeping ahead of the curve by
investing in advanced technologies and creating the commercial
delivery fleet of the future," said Abney.
By the end of 2016, UPS will have invested more than
$750 million in alternative fuel and
advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally since
2009. That continued investment, combined with supportive
government policies, and a collaborative set of partners has helped
to expand development and utilization of alternative fuels,
vehicles and infrastructure throughout the world.
Along the way UPS learned several lessons that can help other
companies make sustainability investments that create long-term
payoffs:
- Encourage innovation. What started out as an "approach"
has become an ecosystem of innovation and progress shaped by
collaboration with suppliers, policy makers and other stakeholders.
UPS applied its expertise in logistics to the sustainability
challenge and leveraged the scale of its 100,000 vehicle fleet to
drive technology, market, and infrastructure improvements that make
cleaner fuels and technologies economically viable.
- Adapt and tailor the solution. The best solution is not
always the perfect solution. The fuels and vehicles that work in
one region or one setting may not make sense in another. Technology
constraints, range, infrastructure availability, government
policies and local air quality goals all play a role in determining
vehicle deployment and fuel selection.
- It takes consistent, unwavering commitment from
leadership. Long-term investments don't always pay off in the
short term. Economic and market forces are constantly changing, and
the political environment that is necessary to foster investment
and infrastructure development can be unpredictable. It took UPS
more than a decade to reach a point where the accumulation of miles
driven by its fleet was rising nearly exponentially. That wouldn't
have happened without a long-term commitment.
- Partner, promote and report progress. Sharing progress
and learnings with key stakeholders and partnering with alternative
fuel and technology developers, non-profits, government agencies
and industry trade groups have been critical to the Rolling
Laboratory's success. UPS reports its progress annually in its
Sustainability Report, and includes key metrics such as CO2
emissions, energy consumption, and alternative fuel and advanced
technology miles driven, among others. Together, these metrics
demonstrate the positive impact of the company's sustainability and
social responsibility programs.
***To obtain more information on UPS's sustainability
initiatives, please visit ups.com/sustainability. For media assets
(b-roll, photos, videos, etc.), please visit this page.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in
logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including
transporting packages and freight; facilitating international
trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage
the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries
and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web
at ups.com® and its corporate blog can be
found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct,
visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS
and follow @UPS_Canada.
SOURCE UPS Canada Ltd.