The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently announced that it will purchase 9,250 Ford E-Transit electric delivery vans. The agency said in a press release that it awarded a contract to purchase a total of 9,250 Ford E-Transit battery electric vehicles (BEVs) after a competitive search. Deliveries of the electric vans are expected to start in December 2023.
The Ford E-Transit is a domestically sourced vehicle, manufactured in Kansas City, Missouri, and qualifies for up to $7,500 federal tax credit. This acquisition is part of the 21,000 commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles included in the Postal Service’s vehicle acquisition plan announced in December 2022. USPS plans to purchase a 75 percent electric fleet of Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) over the next five years, with acquisitions of NGDV after 2026 being 100 percent electric.
Along with the Ford vehicle purchase announcement, USPS also said it placed initial orders for more than 14,000 charging stations to be deployed at Postal Service facilities. The agency plans to begin building out its charging infrastructure across a minimum of 75 locations within the next 12 months, and will continue the infrastructure build out in the succeeding years at many additional facilities as a part of its delivery vehicle electrification strategy.
The BEV and charging stations awards are consistent with the vehicle electrification strategy announced by USPS in December 2022 in the presence of senior White House officials. The Postal Service’s total investment in vehicles is expected to reach $9.6 billion, including $3 billion from Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds.
In addition to the electric vehicles, USPS will also purchase 9,250 commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) internal combustion engine vehicles from Stellantis to fill the urgent need for vehicles. The contract is reportedly for 2024 model year Ram ProMaster vans, but not the all-electric variant that will be unveiled soon. The total for the Ford and Stellantis contracts was just over $1 billion.
The USPS’s commitment to purchasing electric vehicles is an important step towards reducing emissions and improving air quality. With the purchase of 9,250 electric vans and 14,000 charging stations, USPS is taking a major step towards transitioning to an all-electric fleet by 2028.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: It depends on the charger and the location. Some electric car chargers are free, while others may require a fee.
Q3: Can electric car batteries be rebuilt?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be rebuilt with the right tools and knowledge.
