New USPS van

[fdcg27]

Mail trucks are used in a wide variety of situations and conditions. A one size fits all EV solution isn't going to be the best in every case. Battery performance in extreme cold weather, limited electrical power availability in aging postal facilities, long routes in suburban areas, etc are all reasons to prefer a traditional powertrain.

I suspect that 300 miles of normal use range would suit any route under any weather conditions.

 

[Tempest1]

I believe these are a make work project for a defense contractor:

https://oshkoshdefense.com/vehicles/delivery-vehicles/

And they are vastly behind delivery schedule:

https://www.independent.org/article/2025/12/18/billions-usps-electric-vehicle/

 

[AZjeff]

I am also a little dismayed that they didn't go with an EV for the way these things are used.

Every post office that would get EVs would need chargers installed. How many? 1 charger for each EV? 1 charger for every 2 EVs? $$$$$$$$

Why not hybrids?

 

[fdcg27]

Every post office that would get EVs would need chargers installed. How many? 1 charger for each EV? 1 charger for every 2 EVs? $$$$$$$$

Why not hybrids?

Well, EV owners somehow manage to afford the rather minimal costs of a one-time 240VAV outlet install.
Pretty sure USPS could as well for whatever number of trucks each PO actually has. The cost would be in the noise level as compared to the cost of buying and running a fleet of bespoke ICE vehicles.

 

[ripcord]

I suspect that 300 miles of normal use range would suit any route under any weather conditions.

I'm pretty sure mail delivery is not normal use.

Well, EV owners somehow manage to afford the rather minimal costs of a one-time 240VAV outlet install.
Pretty sure USPS could as well for whatever number of trucks each PO actually has. The cost would be in the noise level as compared to the cost of buying and running a fleet of bespoke ICE vehicles.

Most postal facilities will typically have about 4kW of mains service installed. This is grossly under powered for charging a large number of EVs. How many thousands of facilities will need major electrical upgrades to support an EV fleet? How many billions of dollars would that cost over and above what has been allocated for the program?

 

[fdcg27]

I'm pretty sure mail delivery is not normal use.

Most postal facilities will typically have about 4kW of mains service installed. This is grossly under powered for charging a large number of EVs. How many thousands of facilities will need major electrical upgrades to support an EV fleet? How many billions of dollars would that cost over and above what has been allocated for the program?

No, mail delivery is low speed stop/start use, so a duty cycle even better suited to an EV.
The cost of the electrical upgrades would be dwarfed by the net present value of the costs associated with a fleet of already obsolete ICE vehicles.

 

[ripcord]

No, mail delivery is low speed stop/start use, so a duty cycle even better suited to an EV.
The cost of the electrical upgrades would be dwarfed by the net present value of the costs associated with a fleet of already obsolete ICE vehicles.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the USPS has already crunched those numbers, hence the reason a majority of those new vehicles will be (non-obsolete) ICE powered.

One thing I'd be really interested to know about is how modular these rigs are in terms of power plant. Can those ICE trucks be converted to EV and back as technology improves or the USPS gradually upgrades their facilities?

One thing to keep in mind is that those trucks are operated in a near constant state of acceleration and use much more fuel (energy) than you would expect. From what I've read, those ULV trucks use 2 to 3x the amount of gas during normal operation than a similarly equipped passenger car with similar technology would. Regenerative braking would help but it's no where near 100% efficient. Closer to 60%.

 

[fdcg27]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the USPS has already crunched those numbers, hence the reason a majority of those new vehicles will be (non-obsolete) ICE powered.

You have a lot more confidence in the analytical abilities of USPS than I do.
You also may be underestimating the political aspects of their choices.

 

[ripcord]

You have a lot more confidence in the analytical abilities of USPS than I do.
You also may be underestimating the political aspects of their choices.

Possibly. Conversely, I think you might be underestimating the practical and financial costs and difficulties. I'm not intending to be negative towards you in any way, BTW.

 

[fdcg27]

Possibly. Conversely, I think you might be underestimating the practical and financial costs and difficulties. I'm not intending to be negative towards you in any way, BTW.

I look at the one-time cost of adapting the USPS fleet infrastructure to EVs as resulting in long-term cost savings, both running costs and maintenance and repair.
It also cannot have been cheap to have committed to a fleet of bespoke vehicles that happen to use a power train of questionable longevity.
I may well be wrong, but this doesn't look like a well thought out long term plan if cost efficiency is the goal.

 

[nealberke]

For some reason, ugly is a highly desirable feature for deconstructivist central planning types. Witness the Brutalist architecture favored by such movements and governments, not to mention that recently opened presidential library.

I agree that it looks odd, but you gotta appreciate the visibility that thing has. I just hope it was designed with the mechanics who have to work on them in mind The ULV trucks went through lots and lots of power trains over the years. The ability to swap those out easily would be high on my design criteria. The other would be zero to 20 acceleration, lol.

And, the ugly TESLA truck.

 

[4wd]

We have them - and when I see those creepy things - start wondering if they plan on coon hunting - not sure why you need that much glass otherwise …

 

[AZjeff]

Well, EV owners somehow manage to afford the rather minimal costs of a one-time 240VAV outlet install.
Pretty sure USPS could as well for whatever number of trucks each PO actually has. The cost would be in the noise level as compared to the cost of buying and running a fleet of bespoke ICE vehicles.

When the local GMC dealer agreed to the Hummer franchise they had to put in a charging station. They didn't have the capacity where it needed to be and all in the install approached $50k. New transformers, substations, (whatever) heavy wiring, excavation, electrician fees etc. I bet government contracts for the same work would be multiples higher. GMC dealer not a post office but the point is it likely isn't going to be a simple thing.

 

[shortyb]

THIS is what USPS should have done with the Grummans. Talk about hauling the mail .

https://www.google.com/search?q=dra...ate=ive&vld=cid:4c004389,vid:Z7-scO-gUtA,st:0

 

[fdcg27]

When the local GMC dealer agreed to the Hummer franchise they had to put in a charging station. They didn't have the capacity where it needed to be and all in the install approached $50k. New transformers, substations, (whatever) heavy wiring, excavation, electrician fees etc. I bet government contracts for the same work would be multiples higher. GMC dealer not a post office but the point is it likely isn't going to be a simple thing.

For how much current to support how many chargers?

 

[4wd]

I thought they can be built either EV or ICE - FWD or AWD?