UPS will operate hydrogen fuel cell-powered package delivery vehicles in two sizes beginning late this year, marking the first use of fuel cell technology in a commercial delivery fleet in North America.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DaimlerChrysler and UPS are all involved in the project. DaimlerChrysler will supply the fuel cell vehicles for UPS, while EPA will supply a hydrogen refueling station at its Ann Arbor, Mich., facility.
The fueling station will be operational by the end of this year and will provide compressed hydrogen fuel to the UPS vehicles as well as to fuel cell cars in the area.
The first fuel cell vehicle to be tested by UPS will be a DaimlerChrysler F-Cell, which will be used for early-morning deliveries by late 2003. In 2004, UPS will add one or more fuel cell-powered Sprinter delivery vans to its fleet.
