USPS places order for NGDVs

The Oshkosh Defense NGDV Photo: USPS

The United States Postal Service has placed an order for 50,000 units of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV).

Produced by Oshkosh Defense, which is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the order is valued at $2.98 billion (£2.26 billion, €2.71 billion).

After identifying about 10,000 postal routes which are suitable for completing with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), the order will include a minimum of the same number of BEVs.

“We are pleased to be moving forward with this much needed investment in our fleet,” said Postmaster General and USPS CEO Louis DeJoy. “Since I came on board a year and a half ago, we have continuously evaluated and adjusted our vehicle purchase strategy based on our future network initiatives, ongoing review of BEV application to our operational strategy, and our financial outlook as we undertake our ongoing implementation of the Delivering for America plan.

“Based upon this work and our improving outlook, we have determined that increasing our initial electric vehicle purchase from 5,000 to 10,019 makes good sense from an operational and financial perspective,” he added.

DeJoy pointed out that while BEVs are more expensive than an equivalent vehicle with an internal combustion engine, the USPS will continue to look for opportunities to increase the electrification of the vehicle fleet “in a responsible manner, consistent with our operating strategy, the deployment of appropriate infrastructure and our financial condition.”

Unlike the current Long Life Delivery Vehicles which, consistent with the name have been in service for more than 30 years, the NGDV  features a series of modern features. These include air conditioning, airbags and 360-degree cameras. Safety features include front and rear collision avoidance systems and automatic braking.

The new vehicles offer improved ergonomics and increased cargo capacity to improve efficiency by accommodating greater volumes of mail and packages.

In 2021, Oshkosh Defense was awarded a 10-year contract to manufacture the vehicles, supported by a $482 million investment. The first NGDVs are expected to enter service in late 2023.