UPS delivery van: UPS wants to expand its electric vehicle fleet. (Picture: UPS)
Of the delivery service UPS has set up a charging system in its London depot that allows a larger number of electric cars to charge without causing a power failure. The system could work simultaneously for recycling for old ones batteries be used.
Charging many electric vehicles at the same time without overloading the power grid: The UPS courier service has introduced a new charging technology for electric vehicles that does not require any expansion of the power grid.
For this, the central location of UPS was equipped with a large battery as a buffer. Thus, the batteries of the delivery vehicles can be charged via the mains. In addition, electricity from renewable sources, such as solar power, is used.
UPS wants to reuse car batteries
UPS is currently using new batteries for this purpose. In the future, however, batteries from electric vehicles will also be used for this purpose. This could be a solution to the problem of what happens to the batteries, whose capacity is no longer sufficient for a car, but which are still good enough not to dispose of them. At the project Smart Electric Urban Logistics In addition to UPS, the distribution network operator UK Power Networks and the Cross River Partnership initiative are involved.
Charging a larger number of electric vehicles – buses or vans – at the same time can overload the power grid and cause problems. That’s why the French company Alstom is planning for a bus depot in Hamburg specifically to build a substation,
“Electric vehicles are an important part of the alternative UPS fleet that uses innovative fuels and advanced technology,” says Peter Harriswho is responsible for sustainability at UPS in Europe. “We think it’s a world first – in the midst of a mega city – we’re using new technologies to overcome barriers to electric vehicle use and a new generation of sustainable urban delivery methods – here in London as well as in other major cities the world – introduce. “
The new system will enable UPS to increase its electric vehicle fleet. The delivery service currently operates 65 electrically powered delivery vehicles in London. UPS plans to expand the electric vehicle fleet to 170 vehicles. UPS has been using electric delivery vehicles for some time. Recently, the company announced, along with US automaker Workhorse to develop their own electric vehicles,