An nameless reader quotes a report from CBS Information: The U.S. Postal Service’s plans for a nationwide fleet of electrical automobiles are getting nearer to being realized. The service awarded contracts on Tuesday for 9,250 battery electrical automobiles and for greater than 14,000 charging stations. The automobiles bought are Ford E-Transit Battery Electrical Automobiles (BEVs), which in keeping with USPS are “one hundred pc electrical.” It is a part of the company’s plans, introduced in December, to make 75% of its newly acquired automobiles, generally known as Subsequent Technology Supply Automobiles, over the following 5 years electrical. After 2026, NGDV purchases might be 100% electrical, the company mentioned. The aim is to have a fleet of 66,000 electrical automobiles deployed by 2028.
Three suppliers had been awarded contracts for greater than 14,000 charging stations, as nicely, USPS mentioned, to kick off its Electrical Automobile Provide Gear (EVSE) stock. Nevertheless, the company did be aware that the contracts they only awarded is not going to present a right away provide. The automobiles will not be delivered till December, assuming that the company efficiently finishes its Supplemental Environmental Influence Assertion and different mandatory duties. It additionally stays unclear the place the automobiles and charging stations might be positioned, as these particulars have but to be finalized, the company mentioned.
As such, a contract has additionally been awarded for the company to accumulate 9,250 commercial-off-the-shelf inside combustion engine automobiles “to fill the pressing want for automobiles.” In December, the company mentioned that 21,000 COTS automobiles might be bought and are “anticipated to be battery electrical,” however mentioned that relies upon “on market availability and operational feasibility.” On this case, the interior combustion engine automobiles might be gas-powered and made by Fiat Chrysler Vehicle, a spokesperson for USPS informed CBS Information. They added that, not like older USPS automobiles, these will “characteristic air-con and superior security know-how and are extra suited to modern-day operational necessities.” “We’ve an pressing want to switch a few of our automobiles as quickly as doable, and in these situations we are going to look to acquire automobiles that may be supplied to us expeditiously, recognizing that there are a restricted quantity of BEV choices at the moment accessible and that the charging infrastructure buildout may even take a while,” they mentioned in an e-mail.
“…At the moment there stay routes and purposes which don’t help BEVs. As BEV know-how matures and capabilities enhance, the Postal Service will proceed to evaluation its skill to make the most of and broaden BEV utilization.”
