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<\/a><\/p>\nWASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) said on Monday it expected to receive next-generation delivery vehicles in June 2024, nine months behind a prior schedule.<\/p>\n
In March 2022, the USPS placed an initial $2.98 billion order for 50,000 next-generation delivery vehicles from Oshkosh Corp and previously said it expected to begin receiving deliveries in October 2023.<\/p>\n
USPS disclosed the delay on Monday in a court filing.<\/p>\n
In April 2022, 16 states and environmental groups filed a lawsuit seeking to block USPS’s plan to buy mostly gas-powered next-generation delivery vehicles, arguing that the agency failed to comply with environmental regulations.<\/p>\n
USPS said in a filing it planned to file a supplemental environmental impact statement to modify its next-generation delivery vehicle (NGDV) acquisition program by June 30.<\/p>\n
In February 2021, the USPS announced an initial $482 million contract for Oshkosh and said it could order up to 165,000 vehicles over 10 years in a high-profile deal it said could be worth $6 billion or more.<\/p>\n
The modern vehicles will replace many older USPS vehicles that lack air bags and other safety equipment as well as air conditioning.<\/p>\n
In December, USPS said it would more than double planned electric delivery vehicles purchases after initially saying it would buy nearly all gasoline-powered delivery vehicles.<\/p>\n
USPS said it now plans to buy at least 66,000 electric vehicles (EVs) through 2028, including at least 45,000 out of 60,000 Oshkosh-built NGDVs. USPS also announced in February it expected to buy 9,250 Ford E-Transit EVs starting later this year and an equal number of gasoline-powered models from Chrysler-parent Stellantis.<\/p>\n
Congress in August gave USPS $3 billion as part of a $430 billion climate bill to buy EVs and charging infrastructure. The White House said USPS would use $1.7 billion for charging infrastructure. USPS said in February it would buy 14,000 charging stations.<\/p>\n
\n(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jamie Freed)<\/p>\n
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