Biden to Spend Billions on New Electric Vehicle Fleet & Charging Stations for the Post Office

WASHINGTON D.C. – The White House is reporting that U.S. Postal Service (USPS) last week announced an historic, $9.6 billion spending plan over the next five years to electrify its delivery fleet using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. The USPS spending plan includes electrifying 75% of its new purpose-built Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) and a commitment to acquire 100% electric NGDVs starting in 2026.

This $9.6 billion expenditure – which includes $3 billion in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act – installs modern charging infrastructure at hundreds of USPS facilities, electrifies 66,000 delivery vehicles, and modernizes mail delivery by creating a smarter network to more efficiently reach its 163 million delivery locations across the country and further strengthen the sustainability of this critical public service.

Earlier this year, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act to help bring down everyday costs – including costs for energy. The Inflation Reduction Act’s once-in-a-generation spending on America’s infrastructure promises the most significant action ever to tackle climate change and strengthen U.S. energy security, including $3 billion to modernize the USPS delivery fleet. The USPS actions sustain reliable mail service to Americans while modernizing the fleet, reducing operating costs, increasing clean air in our neighborhoods, creating jobs, and improving public health.

Biden’s goal for 50% of new vehicles sold in 2030 to be electric has accelerated federal spending and jumpstarted the EV market in America. Since Biden took office, U.S. electric vehicle sales tripled and are now higher than ever before. One year ago, through the President’s Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, the Administration released the most ambitious sustainability plan ever, establishing a goal for 100% acquisition of zero emission light-duty vehicles by 2027 and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2035. 

USPS will exceed Biden’s requirement for each agency to electrify its Federal fleet. Over the next five years, the Postal Service will purchase 45,000 specialized USPS NGDV electric vehicles and 21,000 commercial off-the-shelf electric vehicles.

The U.S. government operates the largest vehicle fleet in the world, and USPS is the largest vehicle fleet in the Federal government. 

The USPS invests the full $3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds to increase the pace in electrifying its fleet, including $1.3 billion for electric delivery vehicles and $1.7 billion for charging infrastructure. Coupled with $6.6 billion in USPS funds, the overall $9.6 billion, 100,000-vehicle modernization plan results in 66,000 electric delivery vehicles and tens of thousands of charging stations through 2028, and a target of acquiring only electric delivery vehicles after 2026.