UPS achieves alternative fuel vehicle goals early

UPS drove 1 billion miles in its alternative fuel vehicles from between 2012 and 2016. Photo courtesy of UPS.

This summer, UPS achieved its goal of driving 1 billion miles in its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet one year earlier than anticipated.

UPS set a goal in 2012 to drive 1 billion miles using its alternative fuel vehicles by the end of 2017. According to UPS, it reached the goal in August.

“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,” says David Abney, chairman and CEO of UPS. “That’s the equivalent of well over 4,000 trips to the moon.”

UPS will have invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel vehicles and fueling stations by the end of this year, the company adds. About 12 percent of its total fleet runs on alternative fuels, including propane, electricity, hybrid power, natural gas and renewable natural gas.

The company made a significant commitment to propane-powered vehicles in 2014 when it added 1,000 autogas delivery trucks to its U.S. fleet. According to UPS, it also operates about 900 autogas vehicles in Canada, which it rolled out gradually over the past decade.