UPS realizes that fuel cell vehicles are a key part of its sustainable future. The company introduced the first fuel cell vehicle to its Stuttgart, Germany fleet in October 2003. And, in May 2003, UPS announced a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DaimlerChrysler to test North America’s first medium-duty fuel cell vehicles in a delivery fleet. UPS operated two fuel cell Sprinters as part of its alternative fuel fleet in Ontario, California through Spring of 2007.

UPS Fleet Philosophy
UPS is an active participant in advancing and developing future generations of delivery vehicles that reduce dependence on fossil fuels, significantly reduce fuel consumption and create a vehicle platform to bridge to the hydrogen economy - all while remaining an innovative, socially responsible and financially sound corporation.

Fuel Cell Project
UPS is working with the EPA and DaimlerChrysler to gain practical knowledge about operating fuel cell vehicles in a commercial delivery fleet.

EPA - The EPA built a hydrogen fueling station at its National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich. Air Products, an EPA vendor, built the hydrogen fueling station, which was completed at the end of 2003.

DaimlerChrysler - The auto manufacturer provided the fuel cell vehicles to UPS. The first vehicle, which began service in early 2004, is a passenger-car-sized "F-Cell" vehicle that UPS uses for special deliveries. In the fall of 2004, DaimlerChrysler provided three medium-duty fuel cell Sprinter package delivery vehicles for UPS's fleet.

UPS - In August 2004, UPS announced the U.S. deployment of its first three large package delivery vehicles utilizing hydrogen fuel cells for power. Using this technology in "real world" settings, UPS will be able to provide information and feedback that will help design the next generation of fuel cell vehicles for the transportation industry.

TECHNOLOGIES

The fuel cell vehicles joined UPS’s alternative fuel fleet which currently includes one of the United States' largest private fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, 11 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tractor-trailers in the western United States, the industry’s first operational hybrid electric delivery vehicle, all-electric delivery vans and propane-powered delivery vehicles in Canada and Mexico City.

Fuel cells work by converting chemical energy - in this case, hydrogen's reaction with oxygen - into electricity without combustion. The reaction of hydrogen and oxygen produce water vapor and heat as its only by-products, or emissions. The lack of any exhaust emissions makes fuel cell technology the ultimate alternative fuel.