UPS leases 42 all-electric Zap Xebras for deliveries in Petaluma, California
In May, Zap announced that Domino's would use a three-wheeled, all-electric Xebra to deliver pizzas in Las Vegas. Today, Zero Air Pollution vehicles announced a much bigger delivery deal: UPS is leasing 42 Xebra cars and trucks to deliver packages in the city of Petaluma in Northern California. This is but one of UPS' attempts to get off the gas. You can read the details in the links listed below, but the most unusual of UPS' varied strategies is to save $600 million by favoring right hand turns.
As described in Zap's announcement, the Petaluma UPS branch will use the Xebras for small parcel deliveries and will be incorporating the electric vehicles into the tail end of the overall distribution chain, a decision that ZAP CEO Steve Schneider says is "the missing link for small package deliveries in congested areas. ... It's a perfect example of how green technology can help corporate America's bottom line." As our tipster Domenick says, someone is taking Zap seriously.
To see a slideshow of Zap/UPS photos, click here.
Related:
[Source: Zap, h/t to Domenick]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kardax 2:40PM (11/13/2007)
Uh huh. I hope UPS is requiring their Xebra drivers to sign a waiver, or they're setting up themselves for some huge lawsuits if/when one is obliterated in an accident.
Forcing drivers into vehicles classed as motorcycles, and thus not requiring crash protection, is very bad idea.
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JP 2:55PM (11/13/2007)
This could be a good PR move - doesn't Leo Laporte live there? Now he's sure to mention it on his podcasts, TV and radio shows :)
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Dave 4:19PM (11/13/2007)
Glad to see ZAP is doing something right... They get bashed constantly but UPS ain't a small contract. If it works, ZAP may just have found a partner who could boost them to the next level. Go ZAP go...although I still wouldn't touch your penny stock with a ten foot pole (or Dick Cheny's dollar).
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calebe 7:44AM (11/14/2007)
Will they all be painted mud brown?
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Hanan Baron 8:59AM (11/14/2007)
This is only PR- the idea is nice, but the implementation is a lame. the distance of this small vehicle is only Up to 25 miles per charge (40km). it means that the worker will have to drop everything & rush for the homebase or charging point once every few hours. even if you work in a small section/ neighborhood- it is just not enough!! another rhing is the price of this vehicle- 11K $ ! just too much (even though UPS will lease those vehicles rather then a private consumer).
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John 11:16AM (11/15/2007)
I wonder what price the "lease" was made at. I bet it was very low as Zap's MO is to get maximum PR out of anything. The Zap "truck" is little more than a three wheel golf cart without enough range or capacity to do any significant delivery work. I've seen UPS drivers as much on their hand-truck than you can fit in that little thing.
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Chris M 1:56AM (11/17/2007)
Nice, but the capacity is rather limited for delivery. Perhaps they will use them for driving around in their warehouse?
Now there are some full size electric delivery trucks coming on the market, and UPS will likely get a few for some serious delivery work.
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JUKEBOX 2:28PM (12/23/2007)
Some of you are sooo smart. Maybe you should apply
at UPS, apparently they need your guidance.
Amazing.
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