Companies in the United States are readily becoming proponents of hybrid vehicles. Not only are such vehicles a step-up in terms of reducing pollution, they are also assisting the companies in saving money in fuel costs.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is part of the United States’ Department of Energy, studied the use of hybrid vehicles by UPS. NREL recently released their report, finding that UPS saved twenty-eight percent on fuel costs by using hybrid vehicles.
In order to determine the overall effectiveness of using hybrids versus conventional vehicles, the NREL determined the fuel economy, the overall performance of the vehicles and the maintenance required of the vehicles. All of these figures were them compared to the conventional vehicles still in use by UPS.
In terms of fuel economy, the conventional vehicles averaged 10.1 miles per gallons on diesel fuel while the hybrid diesel vehicles averaged 13.1 miles per gallon. In addition, the hybrids cost an average of eight percent less for maintenance per mile.
Due to the positive outcome of the hybrid vehicle usage, UPS has announced that they will be adding upwards of 200 more hybrids to their fleet. When the vehicles will be in use is not yet known, as they just placed the order for the vehicles.
In addition, Coca-Cola is also expected to increase their hybrid-electric fleet. Their hybrid-electric tractor-trailers enable the company to save thirty percent more fuel than with conventional tractor-trailers. They are expected to add a total of 185 hybrids by the end of 2009. Overall, Coca-Cola would then have 327 hybrids in use.
