Tag: ups

Report: UPS testing plastic trucks that cut weight by 1,000 pounds [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Videos

plastic UPS truck

UPS tests composite delivery truck – Click above to watch the video after the jump

UPS is known for its amazing level of efficiency, and that reputation could soon extend to fuel savings thanks to a prototype dubbed CV-23. The delivery company has ordered five of these prototypes to be tested through the end of 2011, but this is no ordinary next-generation package hauler.

The CV-23 weighs about a thousand pounds less than the typical UPS truck, thanks to the fact that it is made with composite materials instead of metal. The lightweight materials could help UPS deliver up to 40 percent better fuel economy than the current UPS fleet truck. Those kinds of fuel economy gains can pay huge dividends in rural areas where trucks are required to drive large distances. And since the body panels are plastic, bumpers, panels and other parts can be replaced easily.

Hit the jump to watch video of the CV-23 as it is tested by UPS management. If the company is sufficiently impressed, the guys and gals in brown could order more trucks, potentially saving 84 million gallons of fuel per year. We’re guessing drivers will want to see some crash test data before seeing what brown plastic can do for them, but otherwise, this seems like a pretty good idea.

Continue reading UPS testing plastic trucks that cut weight by 1,000 pounds [w/video]

UPS testing plastic trucks that cut weight by 1,000 pounds [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UPS truck gets SHO transplant, flame job

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc.

UPS Hot Rod parcel truck

When it comes to getting packages where they’re going, few crews are more on point than the team at UPS. Whether it’s across the state or around the world, Brown gets your gear where it’s going with a quickness. The company has used a fleet of proprietary delivery trucks since 1966, but judging from what American Trucker just discovered, someone’s been turning some wrenches after hours. As it turns out, UPS has its own Hot Rod delivery special. Along with one wicked flame paint job and wild wheels, the beast packs something truly under its fiberglass hood.

Instead of a tired old diesel mill, a super-high output Ford Racing V8 dumps 500 horsepower on the rear wheels via a manual gearbox. As if that wasn’t enough to raise some eyebrows, the engine supposedly runs off of straight alcohol for a clean-burning machine that can light the rear rubber on command. We dig the truck, but if it were ours, we’d be rocking stock wheels and a standard coat of UPS brown paint for the ultimate sleeper. Head over to SPEED to check out the video for yourself.

UPS truck gets SHO transplant, flame job originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 May 2011 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #195 – Econoline, Panamera, hot-rod Foresters, Pik-Ups and Mount Washington

Filed under: Podcasts, Ford, GMC, Honda, Lexus, Lincoln, Porsche, Subaru

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

It’s Episode #195 of the Autoblog Podcast, and Chris, Alex, Sam and Dan talk about the half century of Ford Econolines, Porsche’s impressive Panamera sales, the death of the Mahindra deal with Global Vehicles USA, a possible hot-rod Forester, and Travis Pastrana’s obliteration of editor Neff’s Mount Washington hillclimb time (oh, and he destroyed the record by 20 seconds, too.) Two questions cap it at just over an hour this week. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #195 – Econoline, Panamera, hot-rod Foresters, Pik-Ups and Mount Washington

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Honda Odyssey
GMC Sierra 3500 HD
2011 Ford Edge

News:

  • 50 years of Econolines
  • Porsche Panamera selling like stroopwaffels
  • Details on Mahindra’s deal unravelling
  • Goings on at Lincoln
  • Travis Pastrana’s Mt. Washington Auto Road record
  • Hotter Subaru Forester

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid, Chris Shunk, Alex Nunez

Runtime: 69:34

Gallery: Old Ford Econolines

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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

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Autoblog Podcast #195 – Econoline, Panamera, hot-rod Foresters, Pik-Ups and Mount Washington originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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