DHL Express, an international express services provider, on Monday, July 23, announced the launch of 100 pickup-and-delivery vans fueled by propane autogas. The new Ford E-250 cargo vans, each equipped with a Roush CleanTech-dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel system, will be on the road by late August and will support DHL Express P&D service within California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas.
“Customers in the U.S. and worldwide are increasingly demanding greener logistics and sustainable business procedures,” said Ian Clough, chief executive officer of DHL Express U.S. “Initiatives like our all-green fleet in Manhattan and this propane autogas fleet not only lower our DHL carbon footprint, but are a smart, clean and cost-effective choice for our business.”
The new alternative-fuel vehicles join other propane vehicles already operating for DHL Express in Ohio, Tennessee and Louisiana. They all complement Deutsche Post DHL’s GoGreen program and its target to improve the company’s worldwide carbon efficiency 30 percent by 2020, using 2007 levels as a baseline. Through the use of Propane autogas, each alternative-fuel vehicle saves more than 22,587 pounds of CO2 emissions each year.
Propane autogas is a low-carbon fuel that reduces greenhouse gases by up to 25 percent, carbon monoxide by up to 60 percent and nitrogen oxide by 20 percent and virtually eliminates particulate matter when compared to conventional fuels. In addition, nontoxic propane does not harm soil or groundwater.
DHL Express plans to use existing public refueling infrastructure in addition to adding refueling capability at its service center facilities. According to Roush CleanTech, propane autogas has the largest public refueling infrastructure of all alternative transportation fuel options.
“At Roush CleanTech, we are committed to new technologies that help businesses meet economic and sustainability goals using safe and domestically-produced energy sources,” said Joe Thompson, president of Roush CleanTech. “DHL is internationally known for its green initiatives, and we’re thrilled to partner with them to deliver an alternative fuel solution that lowers operating costs and emissions without compromising vehicle performance.”
The DHL fleet worldwide including its corporate brands under Deutsche Post DHL consists of more than 4,000 nonconventional vehicles either powered by alternative fuels or modified for improved fuel-efficiency – including an all-green fleet in Manhattan with 50 hybrid vans and 30 battery-powered electric trucks.
