United Parcel Service (UPS) has announced they have pre-ordered 10,000 zero-emissions electric delivery vans from UK-based EV startup Arrival. The move will lower the company’s carbon footprint and reduce overall emissions.
Arrival electric vans cost around the same price as a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles but will have a 50% lower operating cost. Arrival said the UPS trucks will have “a battery range of more than 150 miles (240 kilometers).”
Arrival’s modular design model gives the company the ability to produce vehicles for different weight classes, allowing different size vehicles based on the same design.
Carlton Rose, President of UPS Global Fleet Maintenance & Engineering, commented on the new partnership with Arrival:
Our investment and partnership with Arrival is directly aligned with UPS’s transformation strategy, led by the deployment of cutting-edge technologies. These vehicles will be among the world’s most advanced package delivery vehicles, redefining industry standards for electric, connected and intelligent vehicle solutions.
Founder and CEO of Arrival, Denis Sverdlov:
UPS has been a strong strategic partner of Arrival, providing valuable insight to how electric delivery vans are used on the road and how they can be optimized for drivers. Together our teams have been creating bespoke[made for a particular customer or user] electric vehicles, based on our flexible skateboard platforms that meet the end-to-end needs of UPS from driving, loading/unloading, depot, and back-office operations. We are pleased that today’s investment and vehicle order creates even closer ties between our two companies.
UPS is not the only company to invest in Arrival; one week earlier Hyundai and KIA announced they are investing $110 million in the company for a new line of electric vehicles that will cater to commercial customers.
Chief Strategy Officer of Arrival, Avinash Rugoobur also commented about the new deal with UPS:
Arrival has created Generation 2 electric vehicles that are better in price, design, and experience than traditional fossil fuel vehicles and existing EVs. This gives fleet managers a highly compelling commercial and environmental reason to switch to electric and will accelerate the adoption of electric technology globally. At Arrival, we believe these are among the most impactful areas to start the transition to a fully electric future, and our partnership with UPS will drive us both towards our shared vision of cleaner mobility.
Included in the deal with Arrival, UPS will have the option to order 10,000 more EVs as part of the original deal. UPS delivers nearly 20 million packages and documents worldwide every day. Given the sheer volume of their operations, 10,000 new zero-emissions Arrival delivery vehicles will have a substantial impact on the company to lower carbon emissions.
