The United States Postal Service (USPS) continues to upgrade its aging fleet of delivery trucks that Americans see daily with the Oshkosh-built Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV).
Oshkosh won the NGDV contract in February 2021.
[Related: USPS chief defends plans to purchase EV delivery trucks]
Both gasoline-powered and battery-electric versions are currently being churned out at Oshkosh's South Carolina factory. The former boasts a Ford-sourced 2.0-liter inline-four while the BEV has a 94 kW lithium-ion battery producing enough juice for the electric motor to achieve up to a 70-mile range. Expanding that range simply isn't necessary because the vehicles are recharged nightly.
This $9.6 billion delivery fleet upgrade includes the rollout of 106,000 new trucks by 2028, of which 45,000 units will be battery-electrics vehicles (BEVs) along with 21,000 commercial-of-the-shelf BEVs. USPS adds that it's also in the process of upgrading essential charging-related infrastructure, including charging stations, at its facilities nationwide.
[Related: Post office doubles electric van order]
To date, 14,000 BEVs have been purchased and there are currently 35,000 new vehicles already on the road.
The new vehicles feature improved visibility, ergonomic seating, air conditioning, enhanced safety systems, and more intuitive controls. They also offer greater cargo capacity, allowing carriers to deliver more packages per trip and improving both environmental and operational efficiency.
"The new fleet rollout is proceeding well, aligned with our plan," said Justin Glass, the Postal Service's fleet management senior director.
Postal employees, specifically mail carriers, are reportedly anxious to get behind the wheel of these newer, more modern vehicles for obvious reasons, but the rollout will continue to take time.
"We understand everyone is eager to have the new vehicles in their offices and in their neighborhoods. But remember: This is a multi-year effort," Glass added.
