Stop the presses! Literally. Global shipping company DHL has announced its plans to offer paperless billing to customers across Europe. By eliminating monthly paper invoices for millions of customers every year, DHL hopes to save 2400 tree and 600 tonnes of C02 each year. (source) Of course it is reasonable to assume that DHL will reap some benefits from this initiative in cost savings and customer satisfaction. E-billing is not exactly a revolutionary practice anymore, and a lot of people are probably wondering why it’s taken DHL so long to get on board. This also begs the question of why DHL isn’t trying a similar initiative in North America, where it is the third largest carrier. It is also somewhat embarrassing for DHL to attempt to put a purely cosmetic environmental spin on an efficiency initiative while competitor UPS is rolling out a truly groundbreaking innovation in energy efficiency upgrades for their US fleet.
To its existing “green fleet” of 2129 (!) low carbon vehicles UPS has announced plans to add 7 Hybrid Hydraulic Vehicles. What’s a Hybrid Hydraulic Vehicle? Unlike traditional Hybrid drivetrains, the Hybrid Hydraulic Vehicle (HHV) gets its power from tanks of pressurized liquid mounted to the chassis. This configuration has and advantage over battery powered electric vehicles inasmuch as it eliminates the need for bulky storage cells which are not part of the drivetrain assembly, reduces the number of essential components subject to failure and, best of all, recaptures heretofore lost energy from braking. When a HHV brakes the resistance is captured and stored in the hydraulic tanks. Because it operates on hydraulic pressure the vehicle can easily power off and on while not in use, it does not have to overcome the same kinds of inertia that combustion and electric engines do that obliges them to remain on in an idle state in order to conserve the energy that would be expended in restarting. They HHV engine is estimated to be 40-50% more efficient that traditional diesel engines and creates 30% less carbon emissions.
UPS developed the HHV in cooperation with the EPA and a few other private ventures as the product of a joint effort to produce a viable Hydraulic prototype for commercial use. Its imminent deployment testifies to the success of this effort and should be heartily commended. It should also raise the profile of this exciting technology so that it may be adopted in more applications by environmentally responsible manufacturers and corporations.
UPS Fleet Philosophy (fyi)
UPS is an active participant in advancing and developing future generations of delivery vehicles that significantly reduce fuel consumption and our dependence on fossil fuels – all while remaining an innovative, socially responsible and financially sound corporation.
their press releaseWired article
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By Steven Adams
Product Content Manager for UsedCisco.com
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