UPS trials composite delivery vans

[caption id="attachment_4995" align="aligncenter" width="398" caption="UPS's composite delivery vehicle features ABS plastic panels"]

[/caption]International parcel delivery company UPS is trialling five new delivery vehicles made with plastic bodywork.The vehicles use lightweight composite materials in their bodywork in order to cut down on weight, thereby improving mileage.Although the CV-23 Prototype trucks still run on diesel, they use smaller engines than conventional alternatives.The delivery vehicles are being trialled at a mix of urban, suburban and rural facilities across the USA.The plastic body panels also offer maintenance savings. Rather than coating them with a layer of brown paint, the composite material is colored all the way through. This saves the weight of paint, which can be 45kg or more.The plastic panels also hide minor scratches and dings. If a ding exposes underlying metal in conventional vehicles, the vehicle requires a costly trip to the body shop.