Reasons to Support e-Drive
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- USPS operates the largest commercial fleet in the country with 142,000 local delivery vehicles (LLVs). These vehicles average 9 MPG, have an average age of 17 years, and need to be replaced in the near future. The fleet is an ideal test bed for large scale electrification because of its predictable routes, frequent stops and starts, range of weather and terrain conditions, and high visibility. Post offices could provide the public easy access to EV charging stations.
- The E-Drive bill builds upon the $2.4 billion investment in American battery and electric vehicle component manufacturing capacity in 2009. The industry is now at the point where it needs a major customer to provide demand for large-scale deployment. With strong Buy American provisions, the bill will create high-paying American jobs and help revitalize the automotive industry as it shifts from internal combustion engines to electric drive.
- The E-Drive bill addresses national security concerns by reducing our dependence on oil imports. Seventy percent of the oil consumed in 2008 went to the transportation sector. The E-Drive bill will prove that wide scale deployment of EVs is not only possible but desirable, and thus accelerate the nation's movement toward alternative fuel transportation.
- Electrification of the postal fleet will reduce carbon emissions of the country's largest fleet by up to ~75%. It will also lower fuel purchases by hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
- The E-Drive program capitalizes on both the Department of Energy's expertise in batteries and electric vehicles and the Postal Service's experience in fleet management. The bill:
- Has two phases: (1) production, deployment, and assessment of 10,200 vehicles and 12,000 charging stations, and (2) subsequent award of 10,000 vehicles and 12,000 charging stations for the “best” solution(s) of Phase 1.
- Emphasizes competition among suppliers and between technologies, without dictating a winning technology. Areas of interest include: "off the shelf" e-Trucks, new highly efficient e-LLVs; PHEVs, new all-electric and PHEV powertrains for conversions of existing LLVs; and charging stations.
- Lays the foundation for smart grid infrastructure by setting standards and funding seven regional deployments across the nation using postal facilities, building teams of power companies, ISOs, aggregators, and fleet operators. The batteries in the test fleet will help make intermittent alternative energy sources, like wind, more valuable by connecting to the grid at night.
- Includes assessment and reporting obligations to ensure transparency and accountability and strong protections against conflicts of interest.
- Has two phases: (1) production, deployment, and assessment of 10,200 vehicles and 12,000 charging stations, and (2) subsequent award of 10,000 vehicles and 12,000 charging stations for the “best” solution(s) of Phase 1.
