In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service started looking for replacement mail trucks. The bidding process took years, and during that time, the cost of electric vehicles plunged. Although the decision to switch to electric vehicles may save the USPS money in the long run, activists are questioning the decision-making process. In addition, many mail trucks have never been publicly shown, and the process used to make the decision could be questioned.
In a Dec. 8 executive order, the Biden administration asked federal agencies to convert their entire fleets to electric vehicles by 2035. In the meantime, the USPS ordered 50,000 new mail trucks for $3 billion, with 20 percent of them electric. These trucks will come equipped with safety features and basic comforts, but they will not improve fuel efficiency much from their 1980s models. On average, an electric mail truck will get eight miles per gallon with air conditioning on, and 14.7 miles per gallon without it.
Even though the USPS is using gas delivery trucks today, it is still pursuing the option of electrifying its fleet. An op-ed in the Times cited the costs of EVs and the USPS’s own estimates. While it is still unclear whether or not the USPS will convert its fleet, it has begun meeting with suppliers to discuss the possibility of converting its fleet. The USPS has been hesitant to make the switch because of the cost. But it is a huge risk for a company that has billions at stake.
Who Will Make Electric Mail Trucks?
Last year, the U.S. Postal Service announced plans to convert 40% of its delivery fleet to run on electricity by 2027. That decision was met with significant backlash. In March, the U.S. Postal Service announced that it planned to buy 50,000 new electric mail trucks from Oshkosh Defense. Previously, only 10 percent of these trucks would be electric, but the decision was reconsidered based on improved financial forecasts and a wider availability of technology.
But there is a lot to consider before buying one of these electric vehicles. The sticker price is considerably higher than that of a standard electric vehicle. And if USPS purchases EVs on a large scale, they will be more expensive than a conventional van. In fact, the Postal Service may decide to develop bespoke electric mail trucks instead of buying conventional ones. But in the meantime, the USPS may decide to use a mix of different EV platforms for delivery routes.
As far as the USPS is concerned, it is unlikely that Oshkosh will be able to fulfill its order. The company, which makes primarily defense vehicles, has no experience building electric delivery vehicles. And it has never shared its prototype electric mail truck. It is unclear how much time it will take for the new trucks to be available for the USPS. The USPS’s plans for its electric fleet are controversial, but the company said that 95 percent of its routes are suitable for EVs.
Who Got the USPS Electric Vehicle Contract?
Oshkosh Corp., a Wisconsin-based company, won the contract to build electric vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service. With its extensive experience in building armored vehicles, it’s positioned to rapidly ramp up production. The deal could be worth $6 billion or more. But why did Oshkosh win the contract? Let’s look at the pros and cons of each company.
First, the Postal Service did a cost and environmental analysis of the new vehicles. Its executive branch officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the decision was made on a cost-benefit analysis. However, they did acknowledge that an entirely BEV fleet would result in greater emission benefits. And, because the manufacturing process for EVs is difficult, delays are expected. Additionally, supply chains are often disrupted, and there’s a risk of global chip shortages. Lastly, new electric trucks won’t arrive in service until 2023.
In addition, the USPS also plans to replace its existing fleet of Grumman Long-Life vehicles with EVs, despite bipartisan pressure to do so. The contract, worth more than $6 billion when all vehicles are built, is also a good opportunity for EV manufacturers to build new technology and reduce emissions. However, USPS has been reluctant to commit to an all-electric fleet due to high costs.
Will USPS Get Electric Vehicles?
It is unclear how many EVs the USPS will get in the next decade. The agency has been dithering about electrifying its fleet for several years, but it recently passed a $107 billion bill that includes funding for capital improvements. Postal leaders sought funding to improve the fleet, but Republicans accused Democrats of using politics to push a political agenda. Regardless, the USPS will need to update its fleet of delivery vehicles if it wants to compete with private sector EV investments.
The Postal Service is under fire from environmental groups for its plan to purchase electric vehicles. The government agency recently increased the number of electric vehicles it is purchasing, but environmental groups remain skeptical about the shift to EVs. The current fleet of aging gasoline-powered trucks is also cited as a problem. The Postal Service is facing three lawsuits over the plan. But in addition to lawsuits, it has also announced that it will purchase 10,019 battery-electric vehicles.
Do Mail Carriers Pay For Their Own Gas?
A lawsuit filed against the USPS has raised the question: Do mail truck carriers pay for their own gas or does the government foot the bill? The decision has been criticized by environmental groups and government agencies as based on flawed assumptions. For example, the Postal Service says it will cover the costs of converting its new fleet of vehicles to electricity, despite the price of gas being roughly double the price in the immediate aftermath of the Ukraine invasion. Currently, the Postal Service’s plan has the potential to violate the National Environmental Policy Act and is subject to lawsuits from the public and the business community.
The USPS recently announced that ninety percent of new vehicles will be gasoline-powered. This is a far cry from the one cent per mile that was once the standard for federal vehicles. The agency is also not planning to convert its fleet to all electric vehicles, despite the recent legislation mandating that all trucks be zero-emissions by 2035. However, if you’re wondering, “Do mail truck carriers pay for their own gas?”, here are some details:
How Many Mail Trucks are There in the US?
The USPS is phasing out aging fleets of mail trucks in the coming years. Its last LLV was produced in 1994 and has served the mail carrier well. But the fleet has seen a significant amount of damage in recent years, with some trucks even catching fire. But that doesn’t mean the USPS is abandoning trucks entirely. Instead, they’re planning to phase out the problematic vehicles.
Currently, the US Postal Service is in need of a new generation of mail trucks. It had ordered 5,000 all-electric trucks in 2016 but soon doubled its order. It is now building up to 165,000 of these trucks with a mixture of gas and electric power, with the first hitting the road in 2023. While the new fleets are slated to arrive in the US by 2023, some of these trucks aren’t ready yet.
USPS mail trucks are driven by ordinary people every day of the week. They weigh about 3,000 pounds and are 175 inches long. They are equipped with two cameras for monitoring and recording letter carrier activities. Their large windows allow the letter carriers to see their mailboxes easily. Moreover, USPS mail trucks are equipped with GPS devices to track their location in real time. Hence, the USPS can provide next-day delivery.
What Trucks Do USPS Use?
The US Postal Service recently doubled its order for electric trucks, going from 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles. The new trucks will be equipped with battery-powered motors instead of internal combustion engines, which will increase their fuel efficiency. The USPS has stated that by 2027, it hopes to use electric vehicles on all routes. While the switch to 100% electric vehicles will be costly, the savings will be worth it. According to a recent USPS report, the switch to electric trucks would reduce carbon emissions by 865,000 tons per year.
Long-term vehicles were purchased for rural postal routes. They’re white boxy trucks with blue eagles on the side. Some of these trucks are right-hand drive (RHD) Jeeps. These vehicles stopped being manufactured in the 80s, but were produced again later. RHD Jeep Cherokees were first introduced in 2001. While the USPS used Jeeps to transport mail, they also now use them for rural routes.
Who Builds USPS Trucks?
Who builds USPS trucks? is a question that’s been on the minds of postal workers for decades. A recent contract awarded to a Wisconsin-based company for building the company’s next-generation delivery vehicles will give the post office another big source of revenue, and it’s good news for local economies. The company will build 50,000 new right-hand-drive delivery trucks. It could replace the entire fleet with the new vehicles, which will be equipped with the latest technological advancements and energy-efficient features.
A USPS truck is a powerful piece of equipment, but it doesn’t come with air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, or a rear-view mirror. The mail truck mechanics that construct these vehicles are part of the American Postal Workers Union, which makes them even more difficult to find. The union that represents USPS employees often works for companies that build other vehicles. This gives the union a much better chance of ensuring the quality of the mail truck.
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