Postal Service Modernization Enables Expanded Electric Vehicle Opportunity

The U.S. Postal Service today announced it anticipates adjusting the purchase interval and composition of its delivery fleet. The adjustments reflect refinements to the Postal Service’s overall network modernization, route optimizations, improved facility electric infrastructure, and availability of vehicles and technology. The proposed expanded fleet mix will include purpose built Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs) and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles, and the network adjustments and attendant economies will facilitate substantially increased deployment of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

In February 2022, the Postal Service completed its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act process and issued a Record of Decision to acquire up to 165,000 NGDV, with a commitment for at least 10 percent BEV. This decision was expressly designed to provide the Postal Service the flexibility to acquire significantly more BEV NGDV should financial and operational circumstances permit. Pursuant to this decision, the Postal Service then announced in March 2022 a purchase of 50,000 NGDV from Oshkosh Defense, including 20 percent BEVs.

Now, under the new adjusted scope for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), the Postal Service proposes to limit its Decision to the 50,000 NGDV already purchased and to raise the minimum NGDV BEV percentage to at least 50 percent. Because of the critical and immediate need to accelerate the replacement of our aging fleet in accordance with the Delivering for America plan, and the purpose and scope of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, the Postal Service is also proposing to purchase, over a 2-year period, 34,500 COTS vehicles. Additional purchases of NGDVs under the current contract or other COTS vehicles will be analyzed in future supplements to the EIS prior to such purchases. The Postal Service anticipates evaluating and procuring vehicles over shorter time periods to be more responsive to its evolving operational strategy, technology improvements, and changing market conditions, including the expected increased availability of BEV options in the future.

In total, of the above 84,500 NGDV and COTS vehicles, the Postal Service anticipates having at least 40 percent BEV. The Postal Service reiterates its commitment to the fiscally responsible roll-out of electric-powered vehicles for America’s largest and oldest federal fleet. New NGDVs are expected to start servicing postal routes in late 2023.

As a result of this announcement, the Postal Service is extending the public comment period for its NGDV SEIS. The public hearing will now be held Monday, Aug. 8, at 7pm ET. Registration for the public hearing can be found at uspsngdveis.com/. The public comment period has been extended until Aug. 15.
more at: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2022/0720-postal-service-modernization-enables-expanded-electric-vehicle-opportunity.htm

Related Posts

USPS Moves Forward with Awards to Modernize and Electrify the Nation’s Largest Federal Fleet

Overall, the Postal Service’s total investment in vehicles is expected to reach $9.6 billion, including $3 billion from Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds. The December 2022 plan announced intended acquisitions over the next five years of a 75 percent electric fleet of Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV). Acquisitions of NGDV after 2026 will be 100 percent electric. As part of the earliest stages of the delivery vehicle replacement plan, a contract for 9,250 commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) internal combustion engine vehicles will also be concurrently awarded to fill the urgent need for vehicles. The specific locations for deployment of the vehicles and infrastructure have not yet been finalized and will depend on route characteristics, including whether a left-hand drive vehicle is mission-suitable as well as other business considerations. The Postal Service plans to begin building out its charging infrastructure across a minimum of 75 locations within the next 12 months, and thereafter to continue the infrastructure build out in the succeeding years at many additional facilities as a part of our delivery vehicle electrification strategy.

Parents of Students in Grades K through 12 Show Overwhelming Preference for Physical Printed Books Over Digital

The Book Manufacturers Institute (BMI) recently commissioned well-known pollster Frank Luntz to find out how parents view the effectiveness of various learning materials, including books, textbooks and workbooks. The most definitive conclusion was that virtually every parent wants physical materials as part of student learning. 85% of parents want physical books in some form, and 88% think they are important and essential learning tools. In summarizing the study results, Luntz said, “With parents keenly aware of the shortcomings of online learning thanks to the pandemic, this finding is only surprising in its intensity and uniformity. Every demographic and geographic subgroup agrees: printed materials are essential to student learning.”

IAC Announces Q2 2022 Earnings

Q2 2022 HIGHLIGHTS * Dotdash Meredith revenue increased 568% year-over-year to $490 million, benefitting from the Meredith acquisition. o Digital revenue was $235 million and Print revenue was $260 million. o Operating loss of $28 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $39 million in Q2 2022. * Angi Inc. revenue increased 23% year-over-year to $516 million, the 7th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth and highest quarterly growth since 2018. o Angi Ads and Leads revenue increased 5% year-over-year, the first quarter of growth since Q2 2021. o Angi Services revenue was $151 million o Monetized Transactions were 4.7 million and Transacting Service Professionals were 220,000. o Operating loss improved to $21 million (compared to a loss of $33 million in Q2 2021) and Adjusted EBITDA improved to a profit of $10 million (compared to a loss of $4 million in Q2 2021).
Back To Top
×Close search
Search