The United States Postal Service (USPS) this week announced plans to purchase 9,250 electric Ford E-Transit trucks, which will begin to be electrified while the Post Office waits for the electric delivery vans to be designed. own design.
The first Ford trucks are expected to arrive in December this year, deliveries will continue through 2024, and will be accompanied by the deployment of 14,000 charging stations, according to a USPS press release. Specific locations will be determined, the Postal Service added, noting that available vehicles are left-hand drive and therefore may not be suitable in all situations like vans. Standard right-hand drive letter.
“Ford is proud to support the U.S. Postal Service in delivering a more sustainable future for America by electrifying their fleet of more than 9,200 E-Transit trucks through the end of 2024,” said Director. executive Jim Farley said in a statement.
Ford E Transit 2022
Ford rates the E-Transit at about 126 miles of range, and in a quick spin We found it very nimble for its size and well suited for last mile delivery needs. The E-Transit was built in Kansas City, Missouri, allowing the Post Office to add vehicles more quickly.
In 2021, the Postal Service announced a custom-engineered Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV), designed to replace decades-old mail vans and built by defense contractors. Crafted by Oshkosh. However, the Postal Service now says the first of these cars is still years away.
The selection of the E-Transit truck as an interim solution reinforces the Post Office’s previously uncertain commitment to electric vehicles. The NGDV is designed for electric or internal combustion powertrains, but when it was announced, the Post Office said only 10% will be electricity —and that an electric version hasn’t even been built.
USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) – Oshkosh Defense
That led to many outcry, including a lawsuit from states and environmental groups, as well as criticism from the Biden administration, aims to make all federal vehicle purchases electric. However, USPS officials initially stuck with the original plan, which critics say based on flaw analysis.
Post office now for the purpose of buying electricity only delivery vehicles from 2026. Under the plan announced in December 2022, the agency plans to add a 75% electric NGDV fleet, with only electric versions of these vehicles to be purchased after 2026 The Postal Service said this week that it plans to commit $9.6 billion in funding toward these purchases, including $3 billion from Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds.
