Posted on 06/15/2022 2:56:36 PM PDT by American Number 181269513
The sleek four-wheeled carts look familiar enough, but not even UPS knows precisely how to describe what could be the delivery giant’s latest way to get packages to your door.
UPS unveiled Tuesday a battery-powered, four-wheeled cycle to more efficiently haul cargo in some of the world’s most congested streets and to reduce its carbon footprint. The company is trying to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
The slimmed-down vehicles don the company’s gold-colored logo and accompanying stripe on a dark brown background. But the “eQuad” — as the company calls it — garnered amusement from passersby.
Ian Lagowitz had never seen one and walked over to give it a look.
“It’s funny looking,” he said, “but it’s probably good for the city, right?”
Mohammad Islam called the vehicle “cool stuff,” and wished the program well.
“Big trucks always blocking the traffic,” he said, “so if they do that kind of stuff, it’s 10 times better for everybody.”
The pedal-powered vehicle was dwarfed by one of the company’s more traditional delivery trucks, which rumble through traffic and sometimes draw the ire of motorists trying to get by parked trucks on narrow streets.
Delivery companies have tried all sorts of ways to deliver packages — from traditional vans to drones. The company now has a fleet of more than 1,000 electric vehicles and thousands more that aren’t powered by traditional gas engines.
UPS said a trial run is focused on New York City and in several cities in Europe.
“New York is a complicated city, when we look at the density,” said Nicole Pilet, the industrial engineering director for UPS. “So if we can have success here in the city, then we can see how we implement in other cities throughout the U.S.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
That looks so, I am trying to think of a three-letter word that starts with G.
The smaller the footprint, the smaller the economy.
If eco nazis get their way, there won't be any packages to deliver.
You will probably see those things around plugged into some charger as your package doesn’t get delivered when expected.
If they have 4 wheels then they aren’t “cycles”. Effing semi-literate morons.
People will pick it up and carry it away
Safety First , NOT
“...pedal-powered vehicle...”
-
???
Your three letter word is exactly right. They have much smaller delivery cycles in London, they work fine, and don’t look that foolish.
UPS golf cart
Poorly written article. Initially says it’s battery powered. Then later says it’s pedal-powered. Ground clearance looks pathetic. It’s going to drag.
The pedal-powered vehicle
Brake and Go pedals ?
Unless the UPS driver is pedaling, it’s not a cycle, no matter how many wheels it has.
There are such things as quadricycles.
Looks like a good wind could knock it over.
Full size pic; https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/AP22165714591142.jpg
You would have to wonder about how the bicyclists feel
about them using the bike lanes ??
I thought you might be right, but this thing could legitimately be called a quadricycle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadricycle
In 1896 Henry Ford named his first vehicle design the "Quadricycle". it ran on four bicycle wheels, with an engine driving the back wheels.
A "quadracycle" also has four wheels, but is pedal-driven.
I thought about that & the danger if being squished by larger vehicles.
Eh. A couple of well placed nukes would solve those congestion and complexity problems. Raise the average national IQ too.
A short video, the thing does have pedals, maybe to kick start it ?
Wonder what the max load is ? Suspension ? I want to see a fully loaded one in the winter.
How about gay..
“carbon neutral”
What a steaming pant load. Good luck making sure you don’t get any electrons generated by coal.
The ONLY reason “green” energy sources can work today is that they are backed up with fossil fuels and nuclear power. And it will be that way for decades to come.
And for what? MAYBE preventing a 0.1 degree temperature rise in 100 years? And China and India are starting up one new coal plant every single week.
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