USPS is lastly rolling out its much-anticipated Subsequent Technology Supply Automobiles (NGDVs), and the primary fleet of them to enter service in Atlanta, Georgia is incomes rave critiques from supply drivers in response to an AP report.
The method of electrifying Publish Workplace autos has been lengthy within the making, with bids and proposals reaching again to the mid-2010s.
After plenty of backwards and forwards, USPS lastly settled on a contract with Oshkosh in 2021, however the unique plan solely included some 10% electrical vans. The overwhelming majority of the acquisition would nonetheless encompass 8.6mpg fuel guzzlers.
So the back-and-forth continued, with Congressional committee hearings, lawsuits, and the Senate (and, in fact, we right here at Electrek) all pushing corrupt Postmaster DeJoy into making an actual dedication to impress the fleet – as was one among President Biden’s first commitments in workplace.
All this stress resulted within the USPS doubling after which doubling once more its buy intent, and eventually committing to 100% BEV purchases after 2026, with solely a small variety of fossil-powered autos to come back from Oshkosh earlier than then. USPS may even purchase some variety of off-the-shelf EVs, with a giant contract already handed out to Ford for 9,250 E-Transits.
After all, as we’ve turn into accustomed to on this entire course of, the rollout of NGDVs was additionally delayed, however now AP is reporting on the primary fleet of USPS EVs, which has simply rolled out in Georgia (the place its first EV charging stations had been put in in January) to very constructive outcomes.
Drivers love new NGDVs – extra options, extra security, much less stress
The earlier mail truck, the Grumman LLV, was constructed from 1986-1994. So each mail truck on the street at present is not less than 30 years outdated.
And people outdated autos undergo from myriad issues. Not solely do they solely get 9 miles per gallon, they’re additionally noisy, smelly (I’ve to shut my window each day when the mail truck comes round), haven’t any air con, laborious to face up in, and their solely security function is mirrors that continually fall out of alignment. AP additionally factors out that almost 100 LLVs caught fireplace final yr – a typical occasion in terms of inside combustion autos.
The NGDVs enhance on the outdated LLVs in each one among these features. They’re extra environment friendly, not noisy or smelly, have air con, permit drivers to face up and stroll by means of the automobile to get packages, and are chock stuffed with security options each for the motive force and to assist improve security of different street customers like pedestrians, cyclists, pet canine, and so forth. The NGDVs have around-view cameras, blind spot displays and collision sensors.
AP quoted drivers in its article, with one stating the air con “felt like heaven blowing in my face,” and one other saying the bigger and taller package deal space helps him keep away from again ache by not having to crouch. And mail service union chief Brian Renfroe mentioned there’s plenty of pleasure amongst postal employees in regards to the new autos.
Electrek’s Take
USPS PLEASE REPLACE THE POSTAL VEHICLE FOR THE ROUTE THAT GOES TO MY HOUSE. ITS SO SMELLY. IT FAILS TO START EVERY OTHER DAY. USPS PLEEEAAASSSEEE
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