USPS Electric Vehicle Program Faces Delays

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is significantly behind schedule in its ambitious plan to replace its aging fleet with 60,000 all-electric Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs) from Oshkosh Defense. As of now, only 93 out of the expected 3,000 trucks have been delivered due to manufacturing issues, including difficulties with airbag calibration and water leaks. Initially intended to enhance sustainability as part of President Biden's climate agenda, the program's delays have raised concerns about its future, especially with a potential change in administration. The Postal Service's plans, backed by $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act, are now in jeopardy, with some sources indicating that internal communications regarding production issues were not disclosed for over a year. Oshkosh's production capacity has drastically fallen short of expectations, with the factory only managing to produce one vehicle daily instead of the anticipated 80. The combination of these setbacks has led to uncertainty about the viability of the electric vehicle rollout and its alignment with environmental goals.