US Postal Service Goes Electric with Ford E-Transit Vans and Charging Stations

A special ceremony was held by the United States Postal Service during a press event in Atlanta to commemorate the first step in the electrification of its delivery fleet. The event displayed the newly equipped South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center, which included a first look at its Ford E-Transit parcel delivery van and EV charging stations.

Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, and other White House officials shared the progress on infrastructure readiness and fleet electrification from a previous announcement, outlining the USPS's plans for a more sustainable future through the electrification of its nationwide fleet. This includes purchasing 9,250 Ford E-Transit vans by the end of 2024.  

Ford Motor Company issued the following statement in response to the news:

“Congratulations to the United States Postal Service on electrifying its South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center, signaling a big step forward in their plan to deliver a more sustainable future with electric vehicles and charging. Our dedicated Ford Pro and E-Transit team are proud to play a role in helping to electrify the largest federal fleet in the country,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO.

The United States Postal Service announced that it will begin deploying electric delivery trucks in Georgia, with plans to expand to other locations across the country throughout the year. These vehicles are equipped with air conditioning and advanced safety technology, and are designed to meet modern operational requirements.

U.S. Postal Service Focuses on Electrification 

Charging stations like the ones at the South Atlanta Sorting Station will be installed at hundreds of new S&DCs nationwide throughout the year and will power the nation’s largest EV fleet. Electrification and modernization of the Postal Service’s delivery fleet is part of the organization’s $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve the USPS processing, transportation, and delivery networks.

“The improvements we need to achieve in sustainability are an integral outgrowth of the broader modernization efforts we have undertaken through our 10-year Delivering for America plan,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “As we transform our operating processes and invest in new automation, technologies, and upgraded facilities and vehicles, we will generate significant efficiencies that reduce our costs, slash our carbon footprint, and minimize waste. We are grateful for the support of Congress and the Biden Administration through Inflation Reduction Act funding, which helped enable the electrification in evidence here today.”

As part of its 10-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan, the Postal Service expects to convert approximately 400 selected sites into S&DCs nationwide. These centers — which provide faster and more reliable mail and package delivery over a greater geographic area — will serve as the local hubs to deploy EVs along local carrier routes. As of January 2024, the Postal Service has opened 29 S&DCs nationwide. 

The Postal Service’s first 14,000 EV chargers will be manufactured by three suppliers: Siemens, Rexel/ChargePoint, and Blink.

Looking Back at the Growth of the E-Transit

The Ford E-Transit was purpose-built for Ford Pro commercial customers starting in 2022. The E-Transit is meant for fleets, featuring eight different configurations, including three roof heights and three body lengths, plus cutaway and chassis cab versions to fulfill multiple applications.