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This week the US Postal Service (USPS) unveiled its first set of electrical automobile (EV) charging stations at an occasion at its South Atlanta Sorting and Supply Middle (S&DC). USPS charging stations like these can be put in at lots of of S&DCs throughout the nation all through 2024, signaling a systemic shift from supply dependence on inside combustion engines (ICEs) to an embrace of zero emissions autos.

USPS charging stations will energy the nation’s largest EV fleet. Electrification and modernization of the Postal Service’s supply fleet is a part of the group’s $40 billion funding technique to improve and enhance the USPS processing, transportation, and supply networks.

On the occasion, USPS additionally showcased new battery powered and domestically manufactured business off-the-shelf supply autos that can make up a portion of the Postal Service’s EV fleet. Deployment of electrical supply vehicles will begin in Georgia after which increase to different places throughout the nation. The procurement of EVs and USPS charging stations is enabled by general community modernization efforts, which permit extra speedy EV deployment, in addition to its enhancing monetary situation, which incorporates $3 billion in Congressional funding appropriated below the Inflation Discount Act (IRA).

“In each neighborhood in America, individuals know their postal provider and acknowledge the USPS automobile driving down their road,” mentioned John Podesta, senior advisor to the President for Clear Power Innovation and Implementation. “The work USPS is doing to affect these autos is making EVs commonplace on each highway and road in our nation, whereas decreasing air air pollution and rising consolation and security for the devoted public servants who ship our mail.”

As a part of its 10-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan, the Postal Service expects to transform roughly 400 chosen websites into S&DCs nationwide. These facilities — which give quicker and extra dependable mail and package deal supply over a higher geographic space — will function the native hubs to deploy EVs alongside native provider routes.

The USPS introduced in March, 2023 that its first 14,000 EV chargers can be manufactured by 3 suppliers: Siemens, Rexel/ChargePoint, and Blink.

• Siemens introduced their choice by the USPS as an EV charging infrastructure supplier for fleet electrification efforts will contribute to Seimen’s objective to fabricate 1,000,000 EV chargers for the US. This objective, they are saying, is “supported by the transformational investments being made to strengthen and modernize American infrastructure.”
• Rexel Power Options was awarded a 3-year contract with the USPS. The contract consists of two extra choices of two-years every and a possible most of 41,500 stations which might be ordered throughout the contracts interval of efficiency.
• Blink obtained an IDIQ contract by the USPS to promote as much as 41,500 EV charging models to help EV charging infrastructure for the USPS as a part of its automobile electrification technique.

The celebratory unveiling occasion featured battery electrical COTS autos manufactured by the Ford Motor Firm. USPS plans on procuring a complete of 21,000 COTS EVs — together with 9,250 from Ford — relying on market availability and operational feasibility. Final yr the USPS awarded contracts to Ford for the left-hand-drive common manufacturing E-Transit electrical vans in addition to 14,000 EV charging stations to help their use.

The Postal Service additionally anticipates including no less than 45,000 battery-electric Subsequent Technology Supply Autos by 2028, bringing the entire variety of EVs within the supply fleet to greater than 66,000. This represents one of many largest commitments to automobile electrification within the nation. USPS can be exploring the feasibility of attaining 100% electrification for its supply automobile fleet.

Furthermore, updating and modernizing the Postal Service’s fleet will enable supply autos to haul bigger volumes of mail and packages. For instance, the Ford E-Transits displayed on the occasion have practically 3 instances the cargo capability of the Grumman LLV supply autos that the Postal Service presently makes use of. Elevated cargo capability will scale back inefficient transportation, enhance supply operations, and remove the necessity for a lot of second journeys carriers take to ship excessive volumes of packages.

Yesterday, the USPS famous that it’s set to buy 6 right-hand drive variations of the Way of life Supply Car 190 from Canoo as a part of the general modernization of the USPS. The Postal Service will take supply of those autos quickly in Q1, 2024. This effort is a part of the USPS’s $40 billion funding technique to improve and enhance the group’s processing, transportation, and supply networks. “The multi-purpose platform with steer-by-wire expertise and a singular low-profile suspension system permits for a readily configurable right-hand drive system whereas sustaining desired roll and experience stability,” mentioned Tony Aquila, Canoo’s government chairman.

Most of the Postal Service’s 217,000 vehicles are greater than 3 a long time previous, so these steps towards full fleet electrification are properly overdue.

Ultimate Ideas about USPS Charging Stations

The share of zero emission autos (ZEVs) within the USPS fleet has elevated considerably. Hopefully, the sample will lengthen to the deployment of ZEVs in communities experiencing environmental injustices because the USPS commits to future purchases.

The plan to give attention to ZEV deployment throughout the fleet — given the huge lifetime value financial savings of ZEVs and the truth that, in response to the USPS, 90% of routes could possibly be served by electrical supply autos — is prudent, in response to Sam Wilson of the Union of Involved Scientists. Wilson continues {that a} USPS fleet that emphasizes supply electrification potential wouldn’t solely assist to cut back local weather warming and air air pollution however would additionally make EVs extra commonplace in each group throughout the nation.

Total, the Postal Service’s complete funding in autos is anticipated to achieve $9.6 billion, together with $3 billion from Inflation Discount Act funds. The December 2022 plan known as for acquisitions over the following 5 years to make the 75 Subsequent Technology Supply Autos fleet 75% electrical by 2025. Acquisitions of recent supply autos for the postal service after 2026 can be 100% electrical.

The trouble has began, albeit slowly.As of January, 2024, the Postal Service has opened 29 S&DCs nationwide.

“The enhancements we have to obtain in sustainability are an integral outgrowth of the broader modernization efforts we have now undertaken via our 10-year Delivering for America plan,” mentioned Postmaster Common Louis DeJoy. “As we remodel our working processes and spend money on new automation, new applied sciences, and upgraded amenities and autos, we are going to generate vital efficiencies that scale back our prices, slash our carbon footprint, and decrease waste.”