ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas recently added hybrid conversion technology and natural gas to vehicles in the company’s service fleet. The use of alternative fuels continues to reduce the company’s environmental footprint. 

Hybrid conversion technology supplied by XL Hybrids, Inc. was added to vehicles, operating in Atlanta, Ga.; Dallas, Texas; and Boston, Mass. The XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System adds an electric motor, an advanced lithium ion battery pack, and sophisticated control software to vehicles and delivers a 25 percent increase in miles driven per-gallon while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

ThyssenKrupp is also using a vehicle for company service mechanics that is fueled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at the Denver International Airport. This type of fuel is a good choice for high-mileage, centrally-fueled fleets that operate within a limited area such as an airport.

Since 2009, ThyssenKrupp Elevator has reduced petroleum use by several methods, including right-sizing to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, implementing efficient route planning and using alternative fuels including propane, natural gas and plug-in electric vehicles. 

“Reducing petroleum use in our 3,200-vehicle fleet is our most significant environmental impact to date. By October 2013, we saved over 710,000 gallons of gas and 115,000 gallons of diesel over our 2010 baseline,” said Brad Nemeth, vice president of sustainability,  ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas. “The addition of the hybrid conversion and CNG technology will give us another tool to improve fuel efficiency.” 

“XL Hybrids is proud to help a fleet industry leader like ThyssenKrupp deploy more fuel efficient vehicles,” said Clay Siegert, co-founder of XL Hybrids. “Our hybrid technology is proven over millions of road miles to pay for itself, and then some. We look forward to continuing to deploy more hybrids nationally with ThyssenKrupp.”

The hybrid drive system reduces fuel consumption through a process called regenerative braking where the electric motor helps to slow the vehicle when the driver brakes, charging the battery. When the driver accelerates, the battery releases the energy to the electric motor, helping propel the vehicle. This system can be attached to existing original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) vehicle powertrains. Therefore companies can retrofit their gasoline-run fleets. The technology does not require an outlet to plug-in, so fleet owners do not need special infrastructure. CNG technology on the other hand does require infrastructure changes; however it is ideal for centralized industrial applications such as airports. CNG is one of the cleanest burning fuels available and resources are not as scarce as traditional fossil fuels. It is also sourced 100% from within the United States. 

Sustainability is embedded in the strategies, policies and business practices of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas. We strive to create a culture that fosters greener solutions for every aspect of our business, from daily operations with over 200 LEED Green Associates on staff to the materials we use that have been examined via Health Product Declaration (HPD) in our products. By implementing the right actions today, we are making a better world for tomorrow.