POSTAL SERVICE
NOW HAS
600 ELECTRIC VEHICLES
POSTAL SERVICE
NOW HAS
600 ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The United States Postal Service, in partnership with the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the Coalition for Clean Air, has rolled out nation's largest fleet of electric vehicles.
"These electric vehicles will help us reduce the emissions going into the air every day from gasoline-powered vehicles," said MSRC Chairman and Mayor of Palm Springs, William G. Kleindienst. "The deployment of the new Postal Service electric delivery vehicles is great for the environment and great for Southland residents who will have their mail delivered pollution free."
The battery-powered Postal Service electric vehicles, or "EVs," can be driven approximately 50 miles before recharging and can accelerate from 0-50 mph in 12.5 seconds, a rate similar to that of their gasoline-powered counterparts. But unlike standard gasoline engine vehicles, the EVs do not have tailpipes, keeping the vehicles free of exhaust fumes and noise. Additionally, while 72 million gallons of gasoline are wasted annually in Los Angeles by gasoline-powered cars sitting in traffic, battery-powered EVs waste no energy while remaining idle - making them the ideal vehicles for the constant stop-and-go routine of mail carriers.
"The average mail carrier can make between 400 to 600 stops per day," said Los Angeles Postal District Manager, William Almaraz. "Through the use of these zero-emission delivery vehicles we can help contribute to the improvement of air quality in many of the communities and neighborhoods that we serve."
Currently, the Postal Service has a fleet of nearly 600 electric vehicles, which deliver mail in New York, Washington, D.C. and California. The majority of the Postal Service EV fleet operates in California, with nearly 400 vehicles deployed in the greater Los Angeles area.
The purchase of the Postal Service electric delivery vehicles was made possible by several funding partners, including the State of California, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Committee and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. While a postal EV costs US $42,000, twice as much as a standard gasoline engine delivery vehicle, the Postal Service was able to purchase each EV for approximately US $22,000, thanks to funding provided by each partner.
Written by: Environmental Defense
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