Nice! Oh, the UPS truck is nice too. (Sorry I was just dreaming about owning or at least seeing a Spark EV here in Hawaii)
Are you my daddy?
2
... says Sparki Jr.
![]()
![]()
This is the first time I've seen the UPS EV truck. The shiny front grill caught my eye -- just like a Spark EV and a Volt.
I talked to the driver. He said there are ten of these trucks in Fresno, out of 100 that UPS has. It has the same 5-pin J1772 charging port as the Spark (without the fast charging option). It runs all day on a 70-80 mile route, and charges at night. The charging port is way up at the top in the back.
This is the first time I've seen the UPS EV truck. The shiny front grill caught my eye -- just like a Spark EV and a Volt.
I talked to the driver. He said there are ten of these trucks in Fresno, out of 100 that UPS has. It has the same 5-pin J1772 charging port as the Spark (without the fast charging option). It runs all day on a 70-80 mile route, and charges at night. The charging port is way up at the top in the back.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
The very first UPS vehicle produced at the EVI (Electric Vehicles International) assembly plant, displayed on Wednesday August 24, 2011, in Stockton, Ca. United Parcel Service has just ordered 100 of the electric delivery vehicles which will be stationed in several California cities, including Bakersfield, Fresno and Modesto.
I found this news from UPS about those EV trucks:
http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+...lout+Fleet+of+Electric+Vehicles+in+California
http://blog.ups.com/2013/02/08/100-...rney-to-save-126000-gallons-of-fuel-per-year/
I love the concept and practice. I wish the USPS did this, too. My Dad who was a mail carrier (a.k.a. "mailman") read about the USPS trials with EV Jeeps (he drove a gas Jeep) and was willing to use an EV version. We know that postal and package carriers are the perfect businesses to use an EV since they travel many short distances, and leave the engine idling while delivering small items (start and stop).
I congratulate UPS and I wish all postal and package carriers will do the same!
BTW, that UPS EV truck isn't the Spark EV's daddy, but maybe a bigger cousin.
http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+...lout+Fleet+of+Electric+Vehicles+in+California
http://blog.ups.com/2013/02/08/100-...rney-to-save-126000-gallons-of-fuel-per-year/
I love the concept and practice. I wish the USPS did this, too. My Dad who was a mail carrier (a.k.a. "mailman") read about the USPS trials with EV Jeeps (he drove a gas Jeep) and was willing to use an EV version. We know that postal and package carriers are the perfect businesses to use an EV since they travel many short distances, and leave the engine idling while delivering small items (start and stop).
I congratulate UPS and I wish all postal and package carriers will do the same!
BTW, that UPS EV truck isn't the Spark EV's daddy, but maybe a bigger cousin.
Most frightening thread title ever. Thanks for the heart attack! 
http://insideevs.com/should-the-us-postal-service-fleet-go-electric/I found this news from UPS about those EV trucks:
http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+...lout+Fleet+of+Electric+Vehicles+in+California
http://blog.ups.com/2013/02/08/100-...rney-to-save-126000-gallons-of-fuel-per-year/
I love the concept and practice. I wish the USPS did this, too. My Dad who was a mail carrier (a.k.a. "mailman") read about the USPS trials with EV Jeeps (he drove a gas Jeep) and was willing to use an EV version. We know that postal and package carriers are the perfect businesses to use an EV since they travel many short distances, and leave the engine idling while delivering small items (start and stop).
I congratulate UPS and I wish all postal and package carriers will do the same!
BTW, that UPS EV truck isn't the Spark EV's daddy, but maybe a bigger cousin.
USPS could save a bundle if they did this, but the up front capital seems to be the limiting factor given their quarterly losses.
I pulled up the spec sheet PDF on the EVI-USA.com site. Their walk in van, which seems like the UPS truck has a 99 kWh battery with a 90 mile range and a top speed of 65 mph. It charges at 75 AMP, which seems to be pushing the limits of the J1772. That is 16.5 kW rate.
I agree with the USPS costs, but if you compare the cost of a letter delivery between carriers, the USPS is still the best. The USPS can increase its rate and still be better in cost. Even with the online billing and payment systems (I use it every month), there are many reasons to keep the paper mail flowing, and one is the physical backup. I keep paper bills, too, because I cannot trust the online system 100% (even if I am working with computers since January 1972). So I know I am not alone here, and the USPS will be in business for a long time!
The vast majority of mail is junk mail. There's really not much time-sensitive mail. They should cut the number of deliveries and scrap the flat mailing fee. Real prices lead to better decisions. The country would adjust very quickly. Unfortunately Congress gets in the way and has schizophrenia about how the USPS should be run.I agree with the USPS costs, but if you compare the cost of a letter delivery between carriers, the USPS is still the best. The USPS can increase its rate and still be better in cost. Even with the online billing and payment systems (I use it every month), there are many reasons to keep the paper mail flowing, and one is the physical backup. I keep paper bills, too, because I cannot trust the online system 100% (even if I am working with computers since January 1972). So I know I am not alone here, and the USPS will be in business for a long time!
The delivery companies try lots of things, but we need cheaper batteries to make these vehicles more affordable and therefore fit more patterns. If only there were a company aggressively trying to bring battery prices down...
The vast majority of mail is junk mail. There's really not much time-sensitive mail. They should cut the number of deliveries and scrap the flat mailing fee. Real prices lead to better decisions. The country would adjust very quickly. Unfortunately Congress gets in the way and has schizophrenia about how the USPS should be run.
The delivery companies try lots of things, but we need cheaper batteries to make these vehicles more affordable and therefore fit more patterns. If only there were a company aggressively trying to bring battery prices down...
I agree. I check my mail maybe once a week. I open it twice a month when I pay bills (which is completely done online). Most of it goes directly into the trash or into the shredder. There is no need for daily mail anymore.
Talk to your local mail person. They would love to replace their existing fleet with EVs. But Congress gets in the way on multiple fronts. One of the bigger ones is Chrysler lobbying about all the jobs they will loose under existing contracts if they switch over to EVs.
And then there is the retirement fund fubar that Republicans pushed on them that is putting 10s of billions of dollars away that has no use and, is the primary reason they want to privatize the USPS, so they can equity strip all that money into the pockets of the privatizers.
And that same Congress is the one that requires all the cheap junk mail because "small businesses would be unfairly burdened if they had to pay full fare" for advertising.
And it is the same Congress that required the USPS to contract with airlines for minimum amounts of traffic, that are subsidized, which is the reason Priority Mail is so relatively inexpensive.
And then there is the retirement fund fubar that Republicans pushed on them that is putting 10s of billions of dollars away that has no use and, is the primary reason they want to privatize the USPS, so they can equity strip all that money into the pockets of the privatizers.
And that same Congress is the one that requires all the cheap junk mail because "small businesses would be unfairly burdened if they had to pay full fare" for advertising.
And it is the same Congress that required the USPS to contract with airlines for minimum amounts of traffic, that are subsidized, which is the reason Priority Mail is so relatively inexpensive.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
GM Volt Forum
A forum community dedicated to Chevy Volt electric car owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about hybrid performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, reviews, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
