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.
