The US Postal Service unveiled its first EV charging stations at an event in Atlanta, signaling the launch of hundreds of new sorting and delivery centers across the nation this year. The initiative is part of the USPS’s $40 billion plan to modernize its service and assemble one of the largest EV fleets in the country, with over 66,000 delivery vehicles in operation.
John Podesta, senior advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, praised the USPS’s efforts, stating that the electrification of its vehicles will contribute to reducing air pollution and enhancing the comfort and safety of mail carriers.
The USPS is advancing its plans to transform approximately 400 post office sites into new sorting and delivery centers, acting as larger hubs for the deployment of EVs along local carrier routes. These centers will cover larger geographical areas and have already installed 14,000 EV chargers manufactured by Siemens, Rexel/ChargePoint, and Blink. Additionally, 29 new sorting and delivery centers have been opened this year.
Last year, the USPS signed an agreement to purchase 9,250 Ford E-Transit BEVs, offering nearly three times the cargo capacity of the Grumman LLV delivery vehicles currently in use. The USPS also plans to acquire another 11,750 commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles, aiming to add at least 45,000 battery-electric Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs) by 2028.
Electrek’s Take
With a fleet of approximately 217,000 delivery vehicles serving over 135 million addresses, the USPS is considering a shift to 100% electrification as part of its $40 billion modernization plan. While currently targeting 75% electrification, the USPS’s initiative is a significant step towards a more sustainable future, especially considering that a large portion of its current fleet is over 30 years old.
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