USPS adding up to 165K fuel efficient or electric delivery vehicles

The U.S. Postal Service announced on Tuesday that it would be adding up to 165,000 fuel-efficient or electric cars to its fleet over the next 10 years.

According to a press release, the new vehicles will be developed by Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense after the Postal Service signed a $482 million contract with the company.

According to the Postal Service, the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) will feature 360-degree cameras, automatic braking and increased cargo capacity. The first vehicles are expected to roll out by 2023.

“As the American institution that binds our country together, the U.S. Postal Service can have a bright and modern future if we make investments today that position us for excellence tomorrow,” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in the release.

“The NGDV program expands our capacity for handling more package volume and supports our carriers with cleaner and more efficient technologies, more amenities, and greater comfort and security as they deliver every day on behalf of the American people.”

“Our fleet modernization also reflects the Postal Service’s commitment to a more environmentally sustainable mix of vehicles,” DeJoy added. “Because we operate one of the largest civilian government fleets in the world, we are committed to pursuing near-term and long-term opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment.”

The announcement comes about a week after a group of Democratic lawmakers called on President Biden to further electrify government fleets.

“The stakes for our transportation sector’s carbon footprint could not be higher, as USPS operates over 200,000 vehicles and consumes 195 million gallons of gasoline each year,” the lawmakers, led by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), wrote.

Soon after assuming office, Biden pledged to replace all vehicles owned by the federal government with American-made electric vehicles.