DHL Express adds 100 more propane autogas vans for pickup and delivery fleet

DHL Express has added 100 more pickup and delivery vans fueled by propane autogas to its fleet. The new Ford E-250 cargo vans, each equipped with a ROUSH CleanTech dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel system, will be on the road by late August 2012 and will support DHL Express pickup and delivery service within California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas.

The new alternative fuel vehicles join other propane vehicles already operating for DHL Express in Ohio, Tennessee and Louisiana. They all complement Deutsche Post DHL’s GOGREEN program and its target to improve the company’s worldwide carbon efficiency 30% by 2020, using 2007 levels as a baseline.

Through the use of propane autogas, each alternative fuel vehicle saves more than 22,587 pounds (10,245 kg) of CO₂ emissions each year. Propane autogas is a lower carbon fuel that reduces greenhouse gases by up to 25%, carbon monoxide by up to 60%, nitrogen oxide by 20% and virtually eliminates particulate matter when compared to conventional fuels. In addition, non-toxic propane does not harm soil or groundwater.

DHL Express plans to use existing public refueling infrastructure in addition to adding refueling capability at its service center facilities. The infrastructure for propane autogas is less expensive than any other alternative fuel, and with thousands of stations across the nation, propane autogas already has the largest public refueling infrastructure of all alternative transportation fuel options.

ROUSH CleanTech offers dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel systems for a variety of light- and medium-duty Ford vans and trucks, and for the Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision and Micro Bird G5 school bus. Currently offered through authorized Ford dealerships around the country, the ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel system delivers the same factory Ford performance characteristics and serviceability with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty.