ATLANTA — The UPS fleet of alternative fuel trucks recently hit a major milestone, surpassing more than 100 million miles in delivering packages to homes and businesses.

The total mileage accumulated just since 2000 now stands at 108 million miles, or the equivalent of circling the globe more than 4,337 times or traveling from Earth to Venus four-and-a-half times.

“UPS customers benefit from our ability to carefully manage and conserve fuel throughout the business,” said Robert Hall, UPS fleet environmental manager. “But our commitment to these technologies goes beyond just saving fuel. We want to reduce emissions and our impact on the environment and operate in a sustainable manner.”

The total mileage accumulated by UPS Green trucks
now stands at 108 million miles

UPS operates one of the largest delivery fleets in the world and for decades has actively explored different power technologies. UPS has invested more than $15 million in its alternative fuel fleet, which is currently operating hydrogen fuel cell, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, electric and propane-powered trucks in the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany and Brazil.

UPS also has partnered with government agencies and major corporations to help advance the state of vehicle technology, including two such partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). UPS, the EPA and DaimlerChrysler are working together to obtain practical knowledge about operating hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a commercial delivery fleet.

UPS was the first company in the U.S. to deploy hydrogen fuel cell technology in a commercial fleet. Since that launch in 2004, the vehicles — which emit only water – have driven 34,000 miles making deliveries.

UPS’ second partnership with the EPA includes building and testing the world’s first hydraulic hybrid urban delivery vehicle. This multi-phase project includes two UPS truck prototypes with different full-series hydraulic hybrid drivetrains. UPS will begin testing the first vehicle later this year and another next year.

The company recently announced it will also add 50 hybrid electric vehicles to its fleet over the next year. These electric hybrids will feature third-generation technology and are expected to deliver a 35 percent improvement in fuel economy over the vehicles being replaced. In addition, UPS will add 4,100 low emission vehicles in 2006 to the more than 8,000 such vehicles already in its fleet.