U.S. Postal Service Unveils First Postal Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Electric Delivery Vehicles

The U.S. Postal Service has unveiled its first electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center, marking a milestone in its $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and modernize its delivery fleet. These charging stations will be installed at hundreds of new centers nationwide in 2024, supporting the nation’s largest EV fleet. The electrification initiative includes the deployment of battery-powered and domestically manufactured commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) delivery vehicles featuring air conditioning and advanced safety technology. The Postal Service plans to start deploying electric delivery trucks in Georgia, with a nationwide expansion throughout 2024.

The Postal Service’s network modernization efforts and improving financial condition, including funding under the Inflation Reduction Act, enable the procurement of EVs and charging stations. As part of the 10-year Delivering for America plan, the Postal Service aims to convert approximately 400 sites into Sorting and Delivery Centers (S&DCs) to serve as local hubs for EV deployment. The event showcased charging stations manufactured by Siemens and battery electric COTS vehicles from Ford. The Postal Service plans to procure a total of 21,000 COTS EVs, including 9,250 from Ford. It aims to add at least 45,000 battery electric Next Generation Delivery Vehicles by 2028, representing a substantial commitment to vehicle electrification. This effort is part of the broader plan to update and modernize the Postal Service’s fleet, allowing for larger mail and package volumes.

Read more!