DHL Express in the US has commissioned 100 propane powered vans for pickup and delivery services within California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas.
The new Ford E-250 cargo vans, each equipped with a Roush CleanTech dedicated liquid propane gas (LPG) fuel system are expected to be on the road by late August this year.
“Customers in the US and worldwide are increasingly demanding greener logistics and sustainable business procedures,” said Ian Clough, chief executive of DHL Express US. “Initiatives like our all-green fleet in Manhattan and this propane autogas fleet not only lower our carbon footprint, but are a smart, clean and cost-effective choice for our business.”
The new alternative fuel vehicles join other propane vehicles already operating for DHL Express in Ohio, Tennessee and Louisiana. They all complement Deutsche Post DHL’s GoGreen program and its target to improve the company’s worldwide carbon efficiency 30 percent by 2020, using 2007 levels as a baseline.
Through the use of Propane autogas, each alternative fuel vehicle reportedly saves over 22,587 pounds (10,245 kg) of CO2 emissions each year. Propane autogas is a low carbon fuel that reduces greenhouse gases by up to 25 percent, carbon monoxide by up to 60 percent, nitrogen oxide by 20 percent and virtually eliminates particulate matter when compared to conventional fuels. In addition, non-toxic propane does not harm soil or groundwater.
DHL Express plans to use existing public refuelling infrastructure in addition to adding refuelling capability at its service centre facilities. The infrastructure for propane autogas is less expensive than any other alternative fuel, and with thousands of stations across the US, propane autogas already has the largest public refuelling infrastructure of all alternative transportation fuel options.
The DHL fleet worldwide including its corporate brands under Deutsche Post DHL consists of over 4000 non-conventional vehicles either powered by alternative fuels or modified for improved fuel efficiency, including an all-green fleet in Manhattan with 50 hybrid vans and 30 American-made, battery-powered electric trucks.
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