Purolator goes Green

1. Unit E1610127 makes a delivery on Brunswick Street, December 31, 2010.

2. There's a bar code indentifier, a convertor's sticker, but no Utilimaster plate-just a blank spot.

3. Offside of another unit on Water Street December 31, 2010.

Purolator Courier (owned by Canada Post Corp) has gone all Hydrid-Electric in its Halifax fleet. The first models were introduced last month, but they have only gradually taken to the streets.

Otherwise not easily distinguishable from their Utilimaster predecessors, they have the graphics identifying them as Hybrid on the doors. There is also a sticker under the drivers side window identifying Balance Hybrid Electric as the conversion company. It also seems that they removed the cast "Utilimaster" name tag in the process - it used to appear just below the drivers side window.

I do see a Mickey Mouse wiring job to the mirrors, but the rubber fender skirts are a dressy touch, even though the rear dualies appear undersized.

There is also a bar code on the drivers side of the hood identifying the unit number - this matches the number painted above the driver side windshield.

[See November 23 post for photos of conventionally powered Utilimasters.]

Update: press reports indicate that these trucks are built on a Ford E450 strip chassis with 5.4 liter Triton gasoline engine. This is the Balance hydrid electric system from AZD (Azure Dynamics.) AZD also produces bus truck and car electric and hydrid drives.

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