UPS has begun a 90-day demonstration trial of Electric Vehicles International's walk-in van (EVI-WI). Over the past year, EVI and UPS have worked together to develop a vehicle to meet the needs of the parcel delivery service industry.

The EVI-WI is built on a Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. glider equipped with a Utilimaster body. Earlier this year, EVI received California Air Resource Board approval for the EVI-WI. Customers who purchase the EVI-WI can take advantage of a $20,000 CARB rebate through the Hybrid Truck and Bus Incentive Project.

The 90-day demonstration process with UPS will be split into three 30-day, smaller demonstrations in vastly different regional locations. The vehicle demonstration will begin in Sacramento, followed by San Francisco and concluding in Reno.

"UPS has been supporting emerging alternative fuel technologies since the 1930s with our first electric powered vehicles operating in New York City," said Mike Britt, director of Automotive Maintenance and Engineering. "We currently operate over 2,000 alternative fuel vehicles worldwide with a variety of hybrid, electric and natural gas technologies. This project extends our commitment to addressing our environmental impact in the communities where we operate."

More info: www.evi-usa.com.