Every time I see a UPS truck now, I think of their motto, “What can Brown do for you?” I also think that they are perhaps the largest vendor to be testing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. UPS has been testing hydrogen vehicles in the U. S. since early 2004.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contracted Air Products to build a hydrogen fueling station in Ann Arbor, Michigan in late 2003 so that the DaimlerChrysler F-Cell vehicle could be delivered to UPS for use in early 2004. The F-Cell was a fuel cell-powered Mercedes-Benz A-Class car, which UPS used for early morning package deliveries in the Ann Arbor area.
In Fall 2004, UPS took delivery of three DaimlerChrysler medium-duty fuel cell Sprinter vans for normal package delivery. Because of the configuration of the fuel cell, the hydrogen Sprinter now has 10-percent greater cargo capacity, a 155-mile range and similar acceleration to gas and diesel versions of the same vehicle.
A couple of years from now, UPS will likely change their motto. It will once again be stuck in our heads every time we see a UPS van: “What can Green do for you?”