With the United States Postal Service’s announcement that a sizable portion of its delivery fleet will be electric, it seems more and more like the age of EVs has arrived. As the wave of electrification spreads across America, it's only natural that a critical agency like the USPS welcomes it. E-commerce giant Amazon recently partnered with newbie automaker Rivian to begin using electric delivery trucks. Last month, the new fleet numbered over 1,000 units and was available in more than 100 cities. It represents a significant step in the march for sustainable mobility.
This week, the USPS told the world that it intends to supplant its current fleet of over 220,000 delivery vehicles with electric models. According to a Washington Post report, USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy revealed that the agency would buy 106,000 vehicles by 2028. Of that amount, 66,000 vehicles would be all-electric. In a further breakdown of the facts, 45,000 new delivery trucks would be acquired from Oshkosh, a defense contractor. The remaining 46,000 vehicles would come from mainstream automakers.
How The USPS’s Move Will Advance Electric Mobility
USPS is expected to shell out a staggering $9.6 billion for this endeavor and related infrastructure. Interestingly, $3 billion from that figure comes from the Inflation Reduction Act. There have long been complaints about the current USPS fleet. For instance, its trucks lack necessities like air conditioning and airbags, plus they only get between 8 and 10 miles per gallon. By introducing EVs into the conversation, USPS is expected to increase its efficiency. These trucks will travel fixed routes, which simplifies the task of installing a network of charging stations.
The EV market will benefit from the USPS’s decision in terms of the supply chain, too. Large orders like this should spur automakers to ramp up production and demand more semiconductors alongside other parts needed to assemble units. Essentially, more electric delivery trucks may translate to market growth plus lower carbon emissions. After all, studies have shown that EVs are less harmful to the environment.
Plus, operators will potentially spend less on maintenance and repairs. Since the USPS’s trucks are likely to start and often stop as they drop letters and packages, the regenerative braking system will kick in often, recharging the batteries to offer more driving range. Seeing postal workers deliver packages with EVs could also encourage people to make the switch themselves. Choosing to roll with environmentally-friendly trucks places the USPS at the forefront of electric transport.
Source: The Washington Post