As part of a vehicle purchase by the U.S. General Service Administration, the U.S. Postal Service will be receiving 1000 E-85 ethanol-capable and 900 gas/electric hybrid vehicles to replace the aging, less fuel-efficient vehicles in their fleet. Since 2006, USPS has increased alternative fuel usage by 41 percent, and continues planning to reduce total gas consumption by 20 percent over the next five years. By ordering its 1900 new vehicles, which were completely paid for by the GSA, the Postal Service brings the total number of alternative-fuel-capable vehicles in its fleet to more than 43,000 vehicles. The USPS fleet currently sits at nearly 220,000 vehicles.
Considering the fleet travels more than 1.2 billion miles a year, the Postal Service has consistently looked to reduce fleet costs and their environmental impact. Other alternative-fuel undertakings include:
- Testing three-wheel (T3) electric vehicles in Florida, California, and Arizona. These vehicles cost 4 cents/mile to operate.
- Testing two fourth-generation Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in Irvine, California, and Washington, D.C.
- Using 35 propane-powered delivery vehicles in Florida.
- Using 300 biodiesel-powered vehicles nationwide.