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UPS has added 10 new dual-fuel Mercedes-Benz Axors to its dedicated London 2012 fleet, the first of their kind in the logistic giant’s global 2,500-strong alternative fuel fleet.

The long-wheelbase Axors feature a 4x2 drivetrain with a 360hp six-cylinder diesel engine, which has been modified by the Handstaff Group to enable them to run on a dual-fuel blend of biomethane and diesel. Modifications include the fitting of additional injectors to allow the injection of biomethane.

UPS says the new Axors are able to cover a round trip of 730 miles, which meets the requirements of its longest stem routes before refuelling is needed.

The logistics firm is also operating 20 Modec electric vans in London, with five dedicated to its Olympics contract, which have a 5.5-tonne GVW and a payload of 2 tonnes. The vans have a top speed of 50mph and can operate for around eight hours before recharging overnight.

The new tractor units will be stationed at the UPS hub in Tamworth, and will continue to operate in London once the Games have finished as part of the American firm’s sustainability drive.

Cindy Miller, MD at UPS UK, Ireland & Nordics, says: “By using biomethane vehicles to deliver London 2012, we are putting our exploration of alternative fuel technology to the test at the world’s most significant peacetime logistical event.  Using these vehicles to deliver London 2012 items will help us find the best, most responsible solutions to suit our business as it lives and breathes on the ground.”

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