ATLANTA, GA — The United States Postal Service (USPS), in a groundbreaking initiative supported by the White House, revealed its first set of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC) on Monday. These stations herald the beginning of a nationwide rollout aimed at supporting what will be the country’s largest EV fleet.
This monumental step is part of USPS’s ambitious $40 billion investment strategy to modernize and enhance its processing, transportation, and delivery networks. It signifies a significant stride towards sustainability, marking a pivotal moment in the electrification of the nation’s delivery services.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy emphasized that sustainability improvements are an essential part of USPS’s broader modernization efforts under their 10-year “Delivering for America” plan. The transformation of operating processes coupled with investments in new automation, technology, and upgraded facilities and vehicles will generate substantial efficiencies. These efficiencies will not only reduce costs but also significantly cut down the carbon footprint and minimize waste.
The USPS initiative has been lauded by senior White House officials. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, highlighted the significance of USPS’s work in making EVs a common sight on every road in the country. By electrifying postal vehicles, USPS is playing a critical role in reducing air pollution and improving comfort and safety for postal workers.
Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, hailed the move as a victory for USPS, America’s electric vehicle industry, workers, and the environment. By building the world’s largest electric delivery vehicle fleet, USPS is leading by example, delivering on President Biden’s ‘Investing in America’ agenda, and contributing to cleaner air, better health, and job creation across the country.
The event also showcased new battery-powered, domestically manufactured commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) delivery vehicles that will form part of USPS’s EV fleet. The deployment of these electric delivery trucks, equipped with air conditioning and advanced safety technology, will commence in Georgia before expanding to other locations throughout the year.
The procurement of EVs and charging stations has been made possible by USPS’s overall network modernization efforts, which allow for more rapid EV deployment, and its improving financial condition, bolstered by $3 billion in congressional funding appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
USPS’s move towards an electrified fleet is a significant stride towards a sustainable, clean-energy future. As the organization continues to modernize and evolve, it’s setting the pace for other industries and demonstrating how investment in green technology can drive efficiency, reduce costs, and contribute to environmental stewardship.
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