The largest order of alternative-fuel commercial vehicles to date was placed with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) by UPS recently. This order, consisting of 200 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and 300 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, is being manufactured on FCCC's walk-in van MT45 and MT55 chassis product line.
UPS will use these “green” vehicles for daily delivery operations across the United States. They will function in concert with its fleet of conventional diesel powertrain vehicles.
Purchase of a hybrid electric or CNG chassis may result in substantial federal tax credits, the FCCC announced. The FCCC MT45/MT55 models using the Eaton 44-kilowatt hybrid electric system may realize a $4,500 tax credit, while the CNG-powered chassis equipped with 5.9-liter, Cummins B Gas Plus natural gas engine may qualify for up to $25,000 in tax credits. Refer to the posted information on the Internal Revenue Service web site, www.irs.gov.
FCCC says it is the first manufacturer in the industry to introduce hybrid commercial vehicles into fleet operations, with more than 160 HEVs in service since 2004, in addition to 1,000-plus CNG-fueled chassis in service since 2000.
The 200 hybrid electric vehicles will be deployed in 2009 and join the 25 FCCC HEV delivery trucks already in operation. These 200 trucks are expected to save 176,000 gallons of fuel annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,786 metric tons each year.
In late 2008, the 300 CNG chassis will be deployed.