Couriers deliver on fuel cell technology and hybrids

DETROIT, (Aug. 31, 2004) — United Parcel Service hopes to roll out its first commercial medium-duty fuel-cell truck as it tests new hydrogen fuel-cell technology on Dodge Sprinter vans in partnership with DaimlerChrysler.

DaimlerChrysler said last week its Dodge Sprinter van, with a fuel-cell engine, will start out being used for daily package delivery in California.

The Sprinter was launched in Europe in 1995 by Mercedes-Benz and in less than five years became the market leader in Western Europe’s van segment. In 2000, it was brought to North America for distribution by Freightliner LLC — the North American commercial subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler.

DaimlerChrysler and UPS have already paired up to test other fuel-cell vehicles. UPS has used a fuel-cell powered Mercedes Benz A-Class in southeast Michigan for six months for daily package deliveries, and it refuels at a hydrogen fueling station in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Parcel delivery companies — which operate mostly in urban, stop-and-go environments — seem to be the best known embracers of either hydrogen fuel-cell or electric hybrid technology. FedEx Express, for example, plans to convert its fleet of 30,000 medium-duty parcel-delivery vans to hybrids within 10 years. It has chosen an Eaton diesel-electric system in a vehicle built by Freightliner Custom Chassis.

In Canada, Purolator Courier — a Crown corporation of Canada Post — is deploying a Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FCHEV) where the fuel cell/battery electric propulsion system will be designed and integrated into a Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (HEV) platform produced by Azure Dynamics and used in Purolator’s delivery fleet. Hydrogenics Corp. — a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen and fuel cell systems — is developing the technology and providing an on-site hydrogen refueling system for Purolator.