UPS has announced a new collaboration with Thor Trucks Inc. to develop and test a fully electric Class 6 delivery truck in Los Angeles.
The truck, expected to be ready for deployment later this year, will have a driving range of approximately 100 miles. It will be powered by a lightweight battery designed and built by Thor.
UPS continues to work with a range of companies to test and deploy alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles that will help meet the company’s sustainability goals. Electric vehicles – and the charging infrastructure needed to support them – play a critical role in UPS’ vision for its fleet of the future, the company says.
“UPS believes in the future of commercial electric vehicles. We want to support the research needed to make advances and the companies developing those innovative products,” comments Carlton Rose, president of global fleet maintenance and engineering for UPS. “Performance is critical in our fleet. We are excited to get this vehicle on the road to test how it handles routes in and around Los Angeles.”
For six months, UPS will test the medium-duty electric delivery truck. Testing will include off-road evaluation to address durability, battery capacity, technical integration and engineering and anything found during on-road testing. Depending on the success of the deployment, UPS may make additional purchases of the vehicle.
“We’re excited about working with a forward-thinking company like UPS, particularly as our first collaboration,” says Dakota Semler, co-founder and CEO of Thor Trucks, which is based out of Los Angeles. “UPS is committed to sustainability and operates one of the most well-respected and complex fleets in the country. This is also an incredibly valuable opportunity to gain insight into what it will take to fulfill our mission of getting entire electric fleets on the road.”