U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy defended the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) plans to purchase a growing number of electric delivery vehicles, stating that the decision aligns with the service’s business goals. Speaking at a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday, DeJoy emphasized that the USPS’s purchase plan, which includes the acquisition of 66,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2028, is financially sound for the service. In 2023, Congress allocated $3 billion as part of a broader climate bill, including $1.2 billion specifically for EVs and related charging infrastructure.
DeJoy’s defense comes amidst concerns raised by former President Donald Trump’s transition team, which is reportedly reviewing options to cancel USPS contracts related to the electrification of its delivery fleet. These contracts, including partnerships with Oshkosh and Ford, are part of a broader effort to modernize the USPS fleet. However, Representative William Timmons, a Republican from South Carolina, suggested that USPS should return to its original plan of purchasing 90% gas-powered vehicles but without completely canceling the contracts. He expressed opposition to additional spending on EVs, which he called a “green new deal mandate,” and expressed confidence that Congress would address the issue.
In response, DeJoy emphasized that any changes to the USPS EV plan would require legislative action. Oshkosh, the manufacturer involved in building the next-generation delivery EVs, is expected to deliver around 45,000 electric vehicles, with 21,000 off-the-shelf models from Ford. DeJoy noted that the cost of these next-generation EVs is significantly higher than traditional gas-powered vehicles, with a price premium of approximately $20,000 for Oshkosh models and $10,000 for Ford’s E-Transit EVs. Despite these higher costs, the USPS has committed to a transition, with plans to purchase predominantly electric vehicles starting in 2026.
The Postal Service’s vehicle acquisition plans are part of the broader federal push to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles, as outlined in President Joe Biden’s 2021 executive order. While these rules mandate that federal agencies transition to zero-emission vehicles, they do not apply to the independent USPS. As part of its future spending, USPS expects to allocate $9.6 billion toward vehicle acquisitions through 2028.
Source: Reuters
