Twelve-Month Evaluation of UPS Diesel Hybrid Electric Delivery Vans

Abstract

This 12-month evaluation is part of a series of evaluations from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Using an established and documented evaluation protocol, DOEthrough the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)-has been tracking and evaluating new propulsion systems in transit buses and trucks for more than 10 years. The DOE/NREL vehicle evaluations are a part of the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA), which supports DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program. The role of AVTA is to bridge the gap between research and development and the commercial availability of advanced vehicle technologies that reduce petroleum use in the United States and improve air quality. The main objective of AVTA projects is to provide comprehensive, unbiased evaluations of advanced vehicle technologies in commercial use. Data are collected and analyzed for operation, maintenance, performance, costs, and emissions characteristics of both advanced-technology fleets and comparable conventional-technology fleets that are operating at the same site. AVTA evaluations enable fleet owners and operators to make informed vehicle-purchasing decisions. This report focuses on a parallel hybrid-electric diesel delivery van propulsion system currently being operated by United Parcel Service (UPS). The propulsion system is an alternative to the standard diesel system and could enable reductions in emissions, primarily particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen (NO x), as well as reductions in petroleum use. Hybrid propulsion allows for increased fuel economy, which ultimately reduces petroleum use. Evaluation Design This 12-month evaluation used six P70H hybrids and six P70D standard diesels that are located in two UPS facilities in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Dispatch and maintenance practices are the same at both facilities. GPS logging, fueling, and maintenance records are used to evaluate the performance of these hybrid step delivery vans. In addition, a P100H hybrid and a P100D standard diesel were tested at NREL's Renewable Fuels and Lubricants (ReFUEL) Research Laboratory. Testing was performed over multiple standard drive cycles-the Combined International Local and Commuter Cycle, the West Virginia University City cycle, and the Central Business District cycleto evaluate the fuel economy and emissions benefits gained through hybridization. The P100 chassis and engine combination is different from the one used in the P70 and has a higher gross vehicle weight (GVW), but it uses the same hybrid system as the P70's. Evaluation Results The results and related discussions included here focus only on the selected facilities, the two P70 study groups, and the two P100 vehicles tested at the ReFUEL lab. Delivery Van Use and Duty Cycle The hybrids had an average monthly mileage rate that was 20% less than that of the diesel vans. The hybrids consistently were driven a fewer number of miles throughout the UPS Fuel Economy Comparison Monthly Average and Cummulative

Hydraulic Hybrid and Conventional Parcel Delivery Vehicles' Measured Laboratory Fuel Economy on Targeted Drive Cycles

“…Hybrid powertrains save the most energy when on high kinetic intensity and high stops-per-mile routes where the repeated deceleration and acceleration events provide opportunity to capture energy through regenerative breaking that would otherwise be lost on a conventional powertrain. The HHVs in Baltimore are being deployed on routes with lower kinetic intensity, higher driven speed, and lower stops per mile than is ideal or has been seen with other studies of hybrid parcel delivery deployments [3,4,5,6]. It is expected that they are not currently delivering their full potential for fuel savings.…”

“…Because UPS moved to using a gasoline engine in this application as the standard specification, no diesel vehicles were available within the Baltimore fleet; therefore, a diesel-powered conventional vehicle of similar specification was secured from an alternative parcel delivery van fleet for laboratory testing. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) also evaluated hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in UPS service in this class of parcel delivery van previously in Phoenix, Arizona, and Minneapolis, Minnesota [3,4,5,6].…”

“…Hybrid drivetrains have shown significant promise as part of an overall petroleum reduction fleet strategy [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Hybrid drivetrains consist of an energy storage device and a motor integrated into a traditional powertrain and offer the potential fuel savings by capturing energy normally lost during deceleration through the application of regenerative braking.…”

Measured Laboratory and In-Use Fuel Economy Observed over Targeted Drive Cycles for Comparable Hybrid and Conventional Package Delivery Vehicles

“…Conventional vans of the same model were placed in service in Minneapolis from April thru June 2010. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluated the first generation of these UPS/Eaton hybrids in Phoenix, Ariz., from January 2008 thru December 2010 [1,2]. The secondgeneration hybrids studied in Minneapolis include an "engine off at idle" function and meet 2007 emissions standards, among other improvements that warranted further study of this evolving technology.…”

GPS Data Filtration Method for Drive Cycle Analysis Applications

“…The light-duty data set was drawn from a collection of unknown light-duty vehicles [21] instrumented with GeoStats GeoLoggers as part of the year 2000 Southern California Association of Governments post-census regional travel survey, while the heavy-duty data set was drawn from class 3 to class 8 heavy-duty vehicle data collected from 2008 to present [7,22,23]. The GPS data for the heavy-duty data set was collected using a combination of GeoStats GeoLoggers and Isaac Instruments DRU908 and DRU900 data acquisition devices.…”