UPS to Add 40 Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles to Its Fleet

(3BL Media) Baltimore - October 3, 2012 – UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced the deployment of 40 new hydraulic hybrid vehicles (HHVs) – 20 in Baltimore and 20 in Atlanta. Developed by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) and Parker Hannifin Corporation, the package cars can achieve up to 35 percent improved fuel economy and up to 30 percent CO₂ emissions reduction over traditional diesel-powered vehicles that use automatic transmissions in stop-and-go applications.

Both deployments were supported in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program, which is focused on advancing the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local actions to reduce petroleum consumption in transportation.

The HHVs in Baltimore will be deployed immediately while the vehicles in Atlanta will be introduced before the end of 2012. UPS currently has one HHV in operation in Laguna Hills, Calif., and has been working closely with manufacturers to develop and test HHV technology since 2006.

“Our long-term goal is to minimize our dependence on foreign energy and one way we will get there is through the deployment of a wide variety of technologies and designs in our fleet,” stated Mike Britt, UPS director of alternative fuel vehicle engineering. “As early adopters of this technology, we are very pleased with the significant fuel economy and emission reductions that come from the HHVs.”

The HHVs operate on two power sources – a fuel-efficient diesel combustion engine and advanced series hydraulic hybrid components. Energy created by the vehicle’s continued braking action is stored in the HHV’s hydraulic high-pressure accumulator, similar to what is done with electric motors and batteries in a hybrid electric vehicle. The HHV has a function to turn off the engine and drive the vehicle using the stored energy to propel the vehicle. This engine off strategy can reduce up to 90 minutes of engine run time in a typical route.

Because the HHVs efficiency relies on constant braking, the vehicles are best suited for urban routes, which typically involve frequent stopping and starting.

"We are proud to be a part of this exciting implementation to UPS's fleet,” said Shane Terblanche, General Manager for Parker's Hybrid Drive Systems Division. “We fully anticipate that Parker's Hydraulic Hybrid technology for package delivery will provide outstanding bottom line results and support UPS’s commitment towards a sustainable future."

Mike Stark, FCCC senior technical sales manager, national accounts, added, “In terms of fuel economy, range and performance, the HHV is ideal for challenging pickup and delivery routes like those served by UPS.”

UPS currently operates 2,593 vehicles powered by alternative fuels or technology, including hybrid electric, electric, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, bio-methane and propane-powered vehicles. As of 2011, UPS’s alternative fuel and technology fleet has logged more than 240 million miles and is well on track to reach the company’s goal of 400 million miles by 2017.  For more information on UPS’s sustainability initiatives, please review the company’s 2011 Corporate Sustainability Report at http://responsibility.ups.com/Sustainability.

About Daimler Trucks North America

Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

About Parker Hannifin

With annual sales of $12 billion in fiscal year 2011, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs approximately 55,000 people in 46 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 54 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index. For more information, visit the company's web site at http://www.parker.com, or its investor information site at http://www.phstock.com.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

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Acknowledgment:  This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0002565.

Disclaimer:  This was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government.  Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.  Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.  The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.