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| USPS launches new mail vehicle with electric options |
After years of competition, the U.S. Postal Service released this new type of mail truck, manufactured by the Department of Defense in Oshkosh that can run on gasoline and electric motors, but won't be available until 2023.
The United States Postal Service has been trying to replace its existing mail cars for many years and has been receiving requests for new styling again since 2015.
New trucks are urgently needed because the trucks currently on the road are very old and at risk of fire.
The transition was supposed to start in 2018, but the program has faced several setbacks. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has repeatedly extended the deadline at the request of the manufacturer.
The new truck has more cargo space, better ergonomics, better air conditioning, and is equipped with a camera that provides a 360-degree view. In addition to automatic braking, visual and audible warnings can be used to operate the front and rear anti-collision systems.
The large windshield and lower bonnet should enable the driver to better monitor the road, pedestrians or cyclists, which is a major improvement in the safety of people outside the vehicle.
Oshkosh Defense has not yet finished designing the pickup truck, which is a reason to wait two years.
The company has an initial investment of $ 482 million and has promised to produce between 50,000 and 165,000 trucks in 10 years.
Oshkosh Defense worked with Ford on the tender, but it is not known if Ford was still involved in the final product bidding.
The USPS has not disclosed the exact number of refueling vehicles and the number of electric vehicles, as there are plans to build trucks with vehicles designed so that the drivetrain can be converted into electricity over time.
The U.S. Postal Service said its fuel engine was efficient in terms of fuel economy, but did not explain the meaning of the terms.
President Biden said in January that he wanted to replace the government's entire fleet with electric motors, which would be impossible without the USPS, which makes up a third of those vehicles.
Unfortunately, the announcement did not immediately commit to the delivery of one of the largest fleets in the United States.
This deal is a unique opportunity to boost the national electric vehicle market. The promise to provide the postal fleet with electricity is giving a major boost to the development of the national electric vehicle industry.