Purolator increases order for hybrid Ford E-450s from Azure
It's not only hydrogen-powered Ford E-450s that the Canadian government is into. Thanks to a recent funding announcement to help businesses become more environmentally friendly, Ontario will invest $15 million (Canadian) in a pilot project. As part of this project, Purolator, Canada's largest courier company, decided to order itself some more of Azure Dynamics' E-450 hybrid vans. Purolator has been using hybrid E-450s since the first batch arrived from Azure after a September 2005 order. The order was increased in 2006 and 2007, and Purolator is now using or is due 105 hybrid Ford E-450s. Azure says it'll deliver the rest by the end of 2008. Purolator's president and CEO, Robert Johnson, said in a statement that his company has been using hybrids (more than just the E-450s) in its deliver fleet since 2005, and has "logged more than 333,000 kilometres, saving almost 60,000 litres of fuel and preventing the emission of over 150 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions."
[Source: Azure Dynamics Corporation]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris Botting 12:09PM (8/16/2007)
Just a quick correction (I am an Azure employee):
Purolator has had hybrid delivery trucks from Azure on the road since the spring of 2005, however to date these have been based on a Workhorse chassis, not yet the Ford E450. Azure has 50 series hybrid electric delivery trucks in service with Purolator; 20 diesel (using European Ford 2.4L) in Toronto since spring 2005, 30 gas (using a GM 4.8L) in Vancouver since the beginning of this year. Azure is currently developing a parallel hybrid powertrain using the Ford E450 chassis; this is the intended powertrain for future Purolator deliveries.
The numbers Purolator is quoting for hybrid kilometers and fuel and CO2 emissions savings are from Purolator's fleet of Azure hybrids.
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