UPS eQuad eBikes pilot program for deliveries launched in Manhattan

PS, the global package delivery company, has unveiled a new electric vehicle called the “eQuad” that aims to improve delivery efficiency and reduce emissions in urban areas. The eQuad is a small, four-wheeled vehicle powered by a battery, and it can also be pedaled by the driver for extra speed, similar to an e-bike. In a recent test run, the eQuad was able to navigate tight, congested city streets more efficiently than traditional gas-powered delivery trucks.

UPS is currently testing the eQuad in New York City and parts of Europe, with the hope of expanding the program to other cities in the future. The company has a long history of exploring alternative means of delivery, and its current fleet already includes a number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The need to reduce emissions from transportation in urban areas is more pressing than ever, with an estimated 47% of all planet-warming emissions in New York coming from transportation. Smaller, more efficient vehicles like the eQuad not only help to address this issue, but they can also improve the quality of life in cities by reducing traffic congestion. As one New York resident pointed out to CBS News, “if they [UPS] do things like this, it’s 10 times better for everybody.”