DHL Express in Dallas has announced their new fleet of pickup and delivery vans are fueled by propane autogas (LPG). The new Ford E-250 cargo vans, each equipped with a ROUSH CleanTech dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel system, join other propane vehicles already being launched by DHL Express across the U.S.
“Customers in the U.S. and worldwide are increasingly demanding greener logistics and sustainable business procedures,” said Ian Clough, CEO 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 vehicles complement Deutsche Post DHL’s GoGreen program and its target to improve the company’s worldwide carbon efficiency 30% by 2020, using 2007 levels as a baseline. Through the use of Propane autogas, each alternative fuel vehicle saves over 22,587 pounds of CO2 emissions each year. Propane autogas is a low carbon fuel that reduces greenhouse gases by up to 25%, carbon monoxide by up to 60%, nitrogen oxide by 20% and virtually eliminates particulate matter when compared to conventional fuels. In addition, non-toxic 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. The infrastructure for propane autogas is less expensive than any other alternative fuel, and with thousands of stations across the nation; propane autogas already has the largest public refueling infrastructure of all alternative transportation fuel options.
The DHL fleet worldwide including its corporate brands under Deutsche Post DHL consists of over 4,000 non-conventional 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 American-made, battery-powered electric trucks.
