The US Postal Service (USPS) is making a big step toward electrifying its fleet of delivery vehicles. The agency has announced that it will buy 9,250 Ford E-Transit battery electric vehicles by the end of this year as part of its plan to acquire at least 66,000 electric vehicles by 2028.
The Ford E-Transit is a fully electric version of the popular Ford Transit van, which is widely used by businesses and organizations for cargo and passenger transportation. The Ford E-Transit has a range of up to 126 miles on a single charge and can be recharged in about eight hours using a 240-volt outlet. The Ford E-Transit also has a payload capacity of up to 3,800 pounds and a cargo volume of up to 487 cubic feet.
The USPS will use the E-Transit vehicles for mail delivery in urban and suburban areas, where they can benefit from lower operating costs, reduced emissions, and improved performance. The E-Transit vehicles will also feature advanced technology such as a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, a 360-degree camera system, and a host of driver assistance features.
The USPS will also purchase an equal number of gasoline-powered Ram ProMaster vans from Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, to fill the urgent need for vehicles. The Ram ProMaster is a versatile and spacious van that can accommodate various configurations. The USPS said that the total value of the contracts with Ford and Stellantis is $1.027 billion.
In addition to buying new vehicles, the USPS will also invest in charging infrastructure to support its electrification initiative. USPS has awarded contracts to three suppliers totaling $260 million for the purchase of more than 14,000 charging stations that will be deployed at its facilities across the country. The suppliers are Blink Charging, Siemens, and Rexel USA.
The USPS said that it expects to spend $9.6 billion on vehicle acquisitions through 2028 and that it aims to achieve 100% electrification of its fleet by then. The agency said that the modern vehicles would replace many 30-year-old trucks that lack safety and comfort features, as well as fuel efficiency.
The USPS’s move to electrify its fleet is part of a broader effort by the federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy. In August 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing light-duty vehicles acquired by the government to be emission-free by 2027. However, the order did not apply to the USPS, which is an independent federal agency.
The USPS’s plan to buy electric vehicles has been welcomed by environmental groups and lawmakers who have been pushing for the agency to update its aging and polluting fleet. The plan has also been praised by Ford, which said that it is proud to support the USPS’s mission and vision with its Ford E-Transit electric vehicles. @via USPS.
