Posted on December 21 2022
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced plans to invest $9.6 billion to refurbish its aging mail delivery fleet over the next six years, with a focus on electric vehicles (EVs). The agency will purchase at least 66,000 EVs by 2028, including 60,000 delivery vehicles from Oshkosh Defense, a Wisconsin-based company that manufactures military vehicles, of which at least 45,000 will be electric battery-powered. The USPS also plans to purchase at least 21,000 additional EVs from other manufacturers, and will stop buying gas-powered delivery trucks altogether after 2026.
This move by the USPS is a significant step towards meeting President Biden's goal of electrifying the federal government's vast fleet of cars and trucks, as EVs typically produce fewer planet-warming greenhouse gases than their gasoline-powered counterparts. The USPS owns one of the largest civilian vehicle fleets in the world, with more than 231,000 vehicles.
The decision to switch to EVs also resolves a long-standing dispute between the USPS and the Biden administration over the speed at which the agency should clean up its fleet of iconic white, red, and blue mail trucks. The transition to an electric fleet will not only help reduce emissions, but it will also provide significant cost savings for the USPS in the long run.
Overall, this move towards electric mail delivery trucks is a win for both the Biden administration and the environment. The USPS's transition to a battery-powered fleet will not only reduce emissions and help combat global warming, but it will also set a strong example for other organizations to follow in transitioning to clean, sustainable transportation options.