Dr. Kelly Fleming is policy director for the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA).

A History of Innovation, Not to Be Squandered

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has always exemplified innovation in transportation. Our first Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin, set this tone when he oversaw communications between Congress and military commanders during the Revolutionary war. The USPS would continue to build on this legacy at pivotal moments in US history, from its early adoption of the first automobiles and aviation to playing an essential role in the Civil Rights Movement. The United States Postal Service has come to symbolize progress, and its mark is woven into America’s fabric.

At odds with this innovative history, USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently signed a $6 billion contract with Oshkosh Defense, locking the next generation of mail delivery into decades of antiquated, carbon-intensive transportation. Far from embracing the low-carbon future envisioned by President Biden and millions of Americans, Oshkosh is well-known in the defense world as a manufacturer of Humvee-like, heavy-duty military vehicles – none of which use zero-emission technology. 

The Postal Service’s decision has perplexed electric vehicle (EV) advocates, industry experts, and policymakers alike. Meanwhile, private-sector competitors continue to ditch gas-guzzling vehicles in favor of EVs. We just have to look at FedEx’s recent 100% EV commitment and similar moves by UPS, Amazon, and DHL

In parallel, Congress is looking to incentivize widespread EV adoption in upcoming infrastructure plans, while President Biden seeks to make good on his commitment to electrify the entire federal fleet.

The Case for Electric Mail Delivery

The Postal Service has an opportunity to lead once again by becoming the first U.S. federal agency to electrify its delivery fleet. Not only does this demonstrate innovative thinking – but it also saves taxpayers’ money. EV lifetime operating costs (charging and maintenance) are as low as one-third of the analogous costs associated with gas-powered vehicles. USPS delivery vehicles comprise 30% of the federal fleet and present the most obvious use-case for electrification – stop-and-go idling, fixed routes, short driving range, and convenient parking hubs.

There is also a substantial public health case for electrifying the Postal Service. The current diesel-powered fleet produces more harmful particulate emissions than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. These harmful emissions exacerbate adverse health conditions in low-income and frontline communities, many of which are situated along heavy-traffic corridors. The severity of COVID-19 is directly linked to air pollution. As America begins to recover from the deadly respiratory virus (one that disproportionately impacts frontline communities nationwide), electrifying the largest government fleet sends a meaningful public health message and demonstrates a commitment to addressing these concerns in an equitable manner. 

Questions Unanswered

Despite Postmaster Louis DeJoy’s testimony claiming that the USPS is open to converting some of these delivery vehicles to electric, the clouded secrecy of his cost assessment and criteria for this decision should give us all cause for concern. Congressional leaders have asked for more details, and so far, the USPS has failed to disclose them. 

In particular, DeJoy’s stated cost analysis raises a series of questions. When pressed by Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) in a Congressional oversight hearing, DeJoy claimed that 10% of the new fleet could be electrified but gave little information about the Postal Service’s decision to select Oshkosh’s “convertible” delivery fleet. He alluded to a 15-year cost assessment showing the need for $4-5 billion in additional funding to achieve 50% electrification but did not explain these figures. More transparency is needed, and it must include a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis and the parameters and assumptions used in DeJoy’s decision-making. 

DeJoy alluded to enormous charging estimates, but only Level 2 charging would be required for a delivery fleet with overnight charging hubs instead of the more expensive Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) or supercharging option. Without further details, it is reasonable to assume that DeJoy’s inflated numbers for additional funding may have been a price tag for supercharging, which is several orders of magnitude more expensive and unnecessary for USPS use. Further, the supplemental benefits to local communities and employees (not just to the USPS) stemming from upgrades to transmission lines and charger installation should be quantified and considered in any cost analysis.

More importantly, the USPS has yet to demonstrate to the public that a “swappable” drive train model from Oshkosh Defense exists. Neither a prototype nor digital rendering has been made available. If a prototype to demonstrate the “swappable” drive function does exist, the specifications, including fuel efficiency, emissions profile, and maintenance costs should be disclosed. The cost of transitioning the “swappable” drive to electric should also be considered in the vehicle’s total cost. Without a prototype or any publicly disclosed specifications, Congress should continue pressing the USPS to answer whether EVs are genuinely a viable part of its plan or just a talking point amidst pressing public concerns.

The Postal Service must answer the following questions for policymakers to determine whether they are committing billions of taxpayer dollars to lock the USPS into the technology of the past or are capable of turning toward the future:

• How much does it cost to “swap” out the gas-powered drive train? Was this considered in the total cost of ownership for the agency?

• Does an electric prototype to replace the combustion engine model exist?

• What was the total cost of ownership comparison between combustion and electric, and why did the assessment only consider a 15-year lifespan when replacing 30-year old vehicles?

• How do the fuel, maintenance, and service costs of the selected vehicles compare to those for EVs?

• Was the social cost of carbon included in the cost analysis? 

The Path Forward: It's Not Too Late for an All-Electric Postal Fleet

Full electrification of the postal fleet is inevitable, and the USPS and the general public will save money and reap societal benefits if it is done sooner rather than later. There exist multiple levers of influence to compel electrification. Congress, the USPS Board of Governors, and the Administration all provide opportunities to chart an EV future for the U.S. Postal Service.

In a recent Fast Company article, ZETA Executive Director Joe Britton makes the case that it’s “not too late for the USPS to change course.” And with this once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead and innovate, it is high time we pull out all the stops when it comes to the USPS. 

There are two paths to demand full-electrification and avoid living with DeJoy’s ham-handed decision for decades to come. The first is to work within the current contract and require a higher percentage of EVs. However, this existing approach comes with a vendor, Oshkosh Defense, which has publicly doubted its competencies in vehicle electrification. 

The second is to demand a new fully-electric RFP as requested by U.S. Senate Appropriators. This option presents two funding levers. Congress can compel Postmaster DeJoy to electrify the fleet by providing funding that is legally binding and contingent on electrification. For example, the Postal Vehicle Modernization Act, sponsored by Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA), would provide an additional $6 billion for the USPS should they commit to electrifying at least 75% of the delivery fleet. This avenue would give the USPS even more funding for electrification, in excess of the estimated necessary figure provided by Postmaster DeJoy.

Alternatively, the Biden Administration can work with the independent USPS Board of Governors to realign the next-generation vehicle contract with his Administration’s fleet electrification goals. President Biden’s Treasury Department has authority over a $10 billion loan provided to the USPS in the first COVID relief package, and could make its disbursement contingent on electrification. Whether under the President’s direction or pressure from watchful appropriators in Congress, DeJoy should not be given a blank check. Policymakers have the tools to help the USPS adopt a fully electric delivery fleet. 

Electrifying the USPS fleet will serve as a model for federal leadership, demonstrate the Postal Service’s commitment to progress, and continue its legacy of revolutionary public service. The impact of this decision extends not only to USPS employees but also to the general public and to communities disproportionately impacted by polluted traffic corridors. The Biden Administration and Congress have the power to ensure that mail delivery vehicles are serving everyone, not just invested interests wanting to heighten our carbon dependency. Righting this wrong would restore the credibility and spirit of a once-innovative American institution. 

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) is a non-partisan group coordinating public education and federal policy development to promote the goal of 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030.