Electric vehicles are experiencing a renaissance, and after facing decades of challenges, EVs have become a hit with eco-conscious consumers who prize them for their zero tailpipe emissions. But it’s not just your neighbor that’s interested in these “green” vehicles; eco-friendly companies monitoring their carbon footprint are also investing in green technologies including EVs. In May, package delivery giant UPS announced a pilot program to develop a state-of-the-art fleet of 35 lightweight, composite electric delivery vehicles. The company will be partnering with UK-based technology firm ARRIVAL to test the EVs in London and Paris in the hopes of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and helping to create a more sustainable future. This is the type of innovation that Magnum Venus Products (MVP) seeks to engage with our diverse line of composite application equipment as well

The Electric Delivery Vehicles

UPS vehicles spend a lot of time on the road, pushing the odometer further each day as the company delivers packages to millions of doorsteps. It’s important that the EVs in its fleet can go all day without having to recharge, which is why the new lightweight composite vehicles will boast a range of more than 150 miles (240 kilometers).[1] This is much higher than most current EVs on the market. UPS won’t be relying solely on advanced battery technology alone to get the needed range—they will be leveraging proprietary composite materials that offer benefits that go far beyond increased driving distance.

Why Automakers Are Choosing Composites

When it comes to constructing automobile frames, steel is out and composites are in. Composites like carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) are exceptionally durable and light weight making them far superior to traditional steel. It’s this light weight that helps give the vehicles extended battery range. Composites also offer great flexibility and can be shaped into a highly energy efficient aerodynamic design. Additionally, carbon fiber has experienced a drop in price making the material especially attractive to automakers. And composites eliminate the risk of corrosion, reducing maintenance and replacement costs, and giving companies like UPS one less thing to worry about.[2]

A Forward-Thinking Company

UPS has a history of making forward-thinking moves, introducing the first modern EVs into its fleet in 2001. The company has already deployed more than 300 electric vehicles and nearly 700 hybrids in Europe and the United States.[3] The new modular, fully electric UPS composite trucks will feature Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and a unique, wrap-around front window to improve the safety of the driver, motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. The intelligent, green fleet is expected to hit the road by the end of 2018 and help make the streets cleaner, first in Paris and London, and then the world.

Magnum Venus Products (MVP) is a leading manufacturer of composite application equipment, pumping systems, spray guns, and filament winding systems that are helping to create a greener future. Our solutions serve a variety of industries including, among others, the marine, aerospace, oil & gas, wind, railway and even automotive and transportation industries. MVP. Customer Focused. Product Driven. Learn about our innovative composite production technology by visiting our webpage.

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[1]http://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com/2018/05/ups-composite-intensive-electric-vehicles-london-and-paris/

[2]https://www.mvpind.com/announcements/teslas-new-truck-highlights-importance-mvps-products-processes/

[3] https://www.compositesworld.com/news/ups-to-deploy-fleet-of-composite-evs-in-london-paris