The United States Postal Service (USPS) is in the process of introducing its new fleet of delivery vehicles, which have been criticized for their unappealing appearance but have received rave reviews from postal workers accustomed to older models lacking modern safety features. The first few Next Generation Delivery Vehicles were introduced in August 2022 in Athens and are expected to expand the fleet to 60,000 within a few years, with most of them being electric. These new vehicles represent a significant component of the USPS’s $40 billion transformation plan led by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
The current postal vehicles, known as Grumman Long Life Vehicles and dating back to 1987, have outlasted their projected lifespan but are in dire need of replacement due to their lack of modern safety features, fuel efficiency (only achieving 9 miles per gallon), and propensity for breakdowns and fires. The new vehicles, built by Oshkosh Defense in South Carolina, prioritize comfort, safety, and utility. They feature airbags, 360-degree cameras, blind-spot monitoring, collision sensors, anti-lock brakes, and air conditioning – all missing from the older Grummans.
The rollout of these new vehicles has been met with some controversy, particularly regarding their initial gas-powered status (90% in the first order. However, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy worked to secure $3 billion in government funding for electric charging stations and upgrades to electrical service, allowing for a significant increase in electric vehicle purchases. The USPS now aims to go fully electric with new purchases starting in 2026, which is expected to help the agency cut carbon emissions by 40% by 2030.
As part of this effort, DeJoy announced in December 2022 that the Postal Service would be purchasing 106,000 vehicles through 2028 – including 60,000 next-gen vehicles (45,000 of them electric) and 21,000 other electric vehicles. The White House recognized these efforts by honoring the USPS with a Presidential Federal Sustainability Award in summer 2022.
