UPS has deployed these 100 electric trucks in areas in Sacramento, San Bernardino, Bakersfield, and Fresno. Thanks to the 75-mile range from a single charge, the 100 trucks are said to help cut down diesel fuel use by about 126,000 gallons per year. In total, UPS operates over 2,500 alternative fuel vehicles in the US.

However, UPS isn’t the only package delivery company that’s deploying electric vehicles. Last year, Federal Express said that it was more than doubling its all-electric fleet to 43 vehicles. That’s certainly not as many as UPS has, but we definitely have to give anyone willing to switch to eco-friendly vehicles an “A” for effort.

It’s not said exactly when UPS or FedEx may switch full-time to electric trucks, but given that UPS already has 2,500 of them, it shouldn’t take long until the company replaces their entire diesel fleet. However, electric vehicles are still in their infancy, so it may take a while until we see them hit the road in larger quantities.

[via Autoblog]

Image via Flickr

A video that was posted to vimeo has turned up on Reddit showing a UPS driver stealing a package delivered by FedEx off the front porch of a customer’s home. Early in the video, you see the FedEx driver dropping off the package and pulling the signature slip off the window next to the front door. The FedEx driver compares signatures and does what he is supposed to do before leaving the package on the doorstep and walking away.

A little later in the time lapse video, you see a UPS delivery guy show up, ring the doorbell, drop off his package, and walk away. This is exactly what is supposed to happen. However, the video shows the same UPS driver returning to the house later in the day.

The driver reaches down, picks up the package delivered by FedEx and appears to read the label. He then puts the FedEx package under his clipboard and walks away. The package was an iPad delivered to the homeowner for his daughters Christmas present. The only surefire way to prevent package theft from your door would be to use the services offered by FedEx to hold your packages for pickup at the FedEx location. I hope that this UPS driver will see his heart grow in return the package to the owner.

The video was removed from Vimeo just as we were publishing this story. However, it is still on YouTube.

[via Reddit]