Logistics and parcel carrier UPS has placed a reservation for 125 of Tesla’s new fully-electric Semi tractors to join its 8,500-vehicle fleet worldwide.
UPS’s preorder of Tesla vehicles complements and advances the company’s overall commitment to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from global ground operations 12% by 2025, a goal developed using a methodology approved by the USA's Science Based Targets initiative.
UPS has established a goal for 25% of the electricity it consumes to come from renewable energy sources by 2025. In addition, by 2020 UPS plans that one in four new vehicles purchased annually will be an alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicle, up from 16% in 2016. The company also set a new goal that by 2025, 40% of all ground fuel will be from sources other than conventional gasoline and diesel, an increase from 19.6% in 2016.
UPS has provided Tesla real-world UPS trucking lane information as part of the company’s evaluation of the vehicle’s expected performance for the UPS duty cycle. UPS frequently partners with suppliers of emerging vehicle technologies to help develop solutions.
Also, Anheuser-Busch has placed an order for 40 Tesla tractors as part of a company-wide strategy to employ cutting-edge technology to reduce the environmental impact and increase the efficiency of its operations.
The company said that integrating the Tesla semi-trucks into the brewer’s distribution network will help Anheuser-Busch achieve its commitment to reduce its operational carbon footprint by 30% by 2025 – the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road globally each year.
According to UPS, Tesla expects to begin production of the vehicles in 2019 and UPS will be among the first companies to put the vehicles into use.
In other news, truck and automotive part supplier WABCO has invested $10 million to acquire a 1% equity stake in Nikola Motor Company, a US manufacturer of hydrogen-electric vehicles.
In addition to the strategic investment, WABCO and Nikola signed an agreement to accelerate the development of industry-leading safety technologies specifically designed for electric commercial vehicles, including electronic braking systems (EBS), as well as traction and stability control technologies.
"As vehicles become increasingly autonomous, electric and connected, WABCO continues to be at the forefront of breakthrough technology innovation," said Jacques Esculier, WABCO chairman and chief executive officer. "We are excited to invest in Nikola Motor Company to help the industry realise our joint vision of electrified and autonomous trucks, buses, trailers and off-highway vehicles. WABCO's technologies, notably industry-leading braking, traction and stability control systems, continue to advance the transportation industry."
According to WABCO, Nikola plans to begin testing its zero emission trucks with commercial vehicle fleets in late 2018 and launch full production in 2021.