http://www.greenlivingonline.com/GettingAround/the-purolator-quicksider/
(Sep 25, 2007)
A breakthrough delivery vehicle hits the streets letting you get your packages delivered on time with a smaller footprint!
A green courier
Purolator, Canada’s leading courier company, launched a new electric vessel yesterday that is a standout in the sea of courier companies. The light-weight, all-electric Quicksider truck is certain to generate some buzz. With a streamlined all-in-one fiberglass body, a top speed of 110 km/h, (68 mph) and a 10 percent greater capacity for packages, this is one serious delivery vehicle.
Developing the green delivery
The truck was developed by Toronto-based Unicell, a company that makes aerodynamic one-piece bodies for trucks and vans with considerably lower fuel consumption. In 2003 Unicell invited Purolator to join them in the design phase, getting key insight on how create a delivery vehicles suited to a courier's needs. The first model was ready in 2006 and underwent a year’s worth of rigorous testing for functionality, safety and efficiency. The Quicksider is now ready for real world testing on the streets of Toronto.
Keeping the courier in mind
Many of the bells and whistles on this vehicle are designed to make delivery easier while being energy efficient. Both the passenger side and rear end can lower to be flush with the sidewalk -- ensuring easy delivery using a dolly and eliminating the need for a ramp or strained backs from lifting.
Regenerative breaks put electricity back into the battery banks to be reused while LED strips light the vehicle. Running the width of the vehicle and wider than standard lights, these LED strips produce more light than the conventional incandescent bulbs. Unlike incandescent electricity, LED lighting produces no heat so the trucks are easier to keep cool in summer.
Sleek and fast
The one-piece body is actually so aerodynamic that is delivers half the drag of conventional delivery vehicles, a feature that leads to greater mileage. In fact, during the testing, (traditionally done by taking a vehicle up to 60 km/h or 37 mph, popping it into neutral then measuring the distance before it stops), they had to double the length of the testing area to get results. This is one sleek vehicle!
Suited for delivery
No one is worried that these vehicles will run out of juice halfway through the day. As it turns out, the average delivery vehicle only travels 38 kilometres (23 miles) a day. Contrary to popular belief, these vehicles spend more time parked making deliveries or doing pick-ups that they actually do on the road. The Quicksider should prove to be the perfect kind of vehicle for this kind of driving.
Cutting down on GHG
In Ontario, where coal is still used for electricity) emissions for the Quicksider vehicles will be 20 percent less than more conventional delivery trucks. In provinces that rely more heavily on hydro power, like Quebec and British Columbia, emissions will be reduced by 10 percent. The company has estimated that after 333,000 kilometres (206,916 miles) on the road, approximately 60,000 litres (15,850 gallons) of fuel will have been saved.
Purolator has been at the forefront of green transportation solutions for a while now, having already updating their fleets with hybrid electrics. Their target date for a completely green fleet is 2010.
Lee Schnaiberg is an environmental consultant who has helped green big name festivals such as Bonnaroo, Osheaga and New York City's River to River festival.
The Purolator Quicksider
Image: www.purolator.com/
A green courier
Purolator, Canada’s leading courier company, launched a new electric vessel yesterday that is a standout in the sea of courier companies. The light-weight, all-electric Quicksider truck is certain to generate some buzz. With a streamlined all-in-one fiberglass body, a top speed of 110 km/h, (68 mph) and a 10 percent greater capacity for packages, this is one serious delivery vehicle.
Developing the green delivery
The truck was developed by Toronto-based Unicell, a company that makes aerodynamic one-piece bodies for trucks and vans with considerably lower fuel consumption. In 2003 Unicell invited Purolator to join them in the design phase, getting key insight on how create a delivery vehicles suited to a courier's needs. The first model was ready in 2006 and underwent a year’s worth of rigorous testing for functionality, safety and efficiency. The Quicksider is now ready for real world testing on the streets of Toronto.
Keeping the courier in mind
Many of the bells and whistles on this vehicle are designed to make delivery easier while being energy efficient. Both the passenger side and rear end can lower to be flush with the sidewalk -- ensuring easy delivery using a dolly and eliminating the need for a ramp or strained backs from lifting.
Regenerative breaks put electricity back into the battery banks to be reused while LED strips light the vehicle. Running the width of the vehicle and wider than standard lights, these LED strips produce more light than the conventional incandescent bulbs. Unlike incandescent electricity, LED lighting produces no heat so the trucks are easier to keep cool in summer.
Sleek and fast
The one-piece body is actually so aerodynamic that is delivers half the drag of conventional delivery vehicles, a feature that leads to greater mileage. In fact, during the testing, (traditionally done by taking a vehicle up to 60 km/h or 37 mph, popping it into neutral then measuring the distance before it stops), they had to double the length of the testing area to get results. This is one sleek vehicle!
Suited for delivery
No one is worried that these vehicles will run out of juice halfway through the day. As it turns out, the average delivery vehicle only travels 38 kilometres (23 miles) a day. Contrary to popular belief, these vehicles spend more time parked making deliveries or doing pick-ups that they actually do on the road. The Quicksider should prove to be the perfect kind of vehicle for this kind of driving.
Cutting down on GHG
In Ontario, where coal is still used for electricity) emissions for the Quicksider vehicles will be 20 percent less than more conventional delivery trucks. In provinces that rely more heavily on hydro power, like Quebec and British Columbia, emissions will be reduced by 10 percent. The company has estimated that after 333,000 kilometres (206,916 miles) on the road, approximately 60,000 litres (15,850 gallons) of fuel will have been saved.
Purolator has been at the forefront of green transportation solutions for a while now, having already updating their fleets with hybrid electrics. Their target date for a completely green fleet is 2010.
Lee Schnaiberg is an environmental consultant who has helped green big name festivals such as Bonnaroo, Osheaga and New York City's River to River festival.
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