Shippers high on hybrids

By RICHARD MULLINS
Media General News Service
Published: October 16, 2008

Move over Toyota Prius. Some of the biggest delivery companies are jumping on the hybrid bandwagon.

FedEx Corp., UPS and Coca-Cola Enterprises are starting to deploy hundreds of new hybrid-electric and compressed natural gas versions of their diesel trucks, cutting their fuel use by 42 percent in some cases. Some beer distributors are even starting to look at the technology as diesel prices remain at historically high levels.

Delivery companies are especially interested in hybrid trucks because the technology does so well with the kind of urban, stop-and-start driving that tends to burn the most fuel in urban areas.

Diesel used to be among the cheapest fuels, lower than gasoline in price, hovering between $2 and $3 per gallon. Then with tight supplies and high demand, diesel peaked this summer at $4.86 per gallon before settling at just more than $4 this month.

“Hybrid will definitely help reduce our fuel consumption,” said Norman Ross, a spokesman for Coca-Cola Enterprises.

Coca-Cola Enterprises chose hybrid diesel-electric versions that run on battery power at speeds of up to 35 mph. At higher speeds, a diesel engine starts up and recharges the batteries. Each time the truck stops, the braking action is converted back into electricity to recharge the batteries.

Hybrids don’t come cheap. Hybrid drive systems add $36,000 to the roughly $47,000 sticker price for the diesel models Coke is buying.

Shipping company FedEx started an experimental program with hybrid electric trucks four years ago, though the vast majority of its trucks are still standard diesel versions.

Rival shipper UPS is moving in a different direction. It has 200 trucks for its national fleet that run on compressed natural gas, with 300 more on order. Depending on how they work out, the company could start deploying them in the Bay area soon, company officials said.

EVERY DROP OF FUEL COUNTS

A look at Coca-Cola Enterprises’ new hybrid-powered delivery truck:

-Four lithium ion batteries power the truck at speeds of up to 35 mph.

-Braking action also recharges the batteries.

-Above 35 mph, a 225-horsepower diesel engine turns on and recharges the batteries as well.

-Gas mileage varies widely based on the truck’s load. The hybrid system could cut fuel use by an estimated 37 percent, and reduce emissions by 32 percent.