david robertsDec 21, 2022

I just want to reiterate that this fucking rules.

Unironically: thanks, Biden.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/20/usps-ev-vehicles/

Postal Service will electrify trucks by 2026 in climate win for Biden

The U.S. Postal Service plans to spend almost $10 billion for 66,000 electric vehicles and the related infrastructure.

The Washington Post
Show threaddavid robertsDec 21, 2022
If you want to know why this rules, read this piece I wrote back in 2020 about the many, many benefits of electrifying USPS vehicles. https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/4/22/21229132/usps-coronavirus-electrify-postal-trucks
USPS and coronavirus: A no-brainer stimulus idea is to electrify mail trucks

Electric vehicles for the US Postal Service would reduce noise, air, and carbon pollution in every community.

Vox
Show threaddavid robertsDec 21, 2022

How many US communities receive visits from USPS mail trucks?

All of them.

How many US communities will see a reduction in noise & particulate pollution from this policy?

All of them.

Show threaddavid robertsDec 21, 2022
How many Americans who have never seen an EV in person will now get to witness one working? How many will hear about those new EVs from the proud USPS employees driving them, or see them parked by chargers at the post office?
Show threaddavid robertsDec 21, 2022
Current USPS vehicles were built almost 30 years ago.
Show threaddavid robertsDec 21, 2022
Final thing: by 2026, USPS expects to be buying EVs exclusively. From there, the speed of turnover will depend on the cost of vehicles. My prediction is that scaling up will push costs down & accelerate uptake, in a virtuous feedback loop.
Show threadotrochris
@drvolts i love that this policy will have an (un)intended effect of encouraging charging stations in many many more communities.
Dec 21, 2022 at 10:29amMastodon for iOS
Show threadTransitBikerDec 21, 2022
@otrochris @drvolts nope. Only the postal depots.
Show threadotrochrisDec 21, 2022
@TransitBiker @drvolts ya that’s what i mean. That’s WAY more thsn currently exist.
Show threadTransitBikerDec 21, 2022
@otrochris @drvolts The 3 phase power that most postal depots were built with to run the sorting machines is not common, though. New builds in some area will be quite expensive. Mind share increases will help for sure, but money is money & tearing up stuff to install the transformers etc a whole other thing. It’ll have to happen eventually, though.