UPS Invests $90 Million in CNG Program

United Parcel Services of America says it will build six more compressed natural gas fueling stations this year and add 390 new CNG trucks and 50 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles to its fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology trucks.

The $90 million initiative follows a $100 million investment in 2016 that added 380 CNG trucks and 12 fueling stations. The delivery company currently operates 31 CNG fueling stations in 15 states and runs CNG vehicles in 38 states in the U.S. The delivery company also operates CNG vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand.

This year’s investment goes toward CNG stations in five states and one Canadian city: Vancouver. One of the stations will use renewable natural gas (biomethane), which can be derived from decomposing organic waste in landfills, wastewater treatment and agriculture. The 50 LNG vehicles will be deployed in four Midwest cities with existing LNG stations.

CNG- and LNG-fueled vehicles can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 11%, according to UPS. The company says it has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally since 2009, and now operates more than 8,100 such vehicles.