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9250 E-transit vans which probably equates to a $400,000,000 investment plus infrastructure costs is a fools errand to say the least. I don't say that because they're electric but because on the heels of this move is the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle NGDV which should makes it's debut later this year or early next.
It's clear to see why the EV fleet is starting in Atlanta. As Tom has clearly illustrated, the ev's don't like cold weather. The E transit will have a whopping 126 mile range in perfect conditions. I understand the logic the PO is using here as the current LLV's have a 12.5 gallon tank and at best achieve 10 MPG's.
The commercial vans are really hard to wok out of when one is ingress/egressing 40+ times per day. Gonna be lots of injuries, strains and sprains as the step in height is ridiculous for that type of use. Unlike Tom's Lightning, the vans are only RWD, another dumb move. But hey, the good news is, they'll have AC, a radio and Ford's copilot 360 on board.
They should have waited till Oshkosh was ready to role out the NGDV and have the infrastructure already built and ready accept the new fleet.
I fully support and embrace the use of electric delivery trucks, just makes sense but this agenda is a waste of your tax dollars.
The E-Transit is probably the cheapest available option with a starting price under $50K. Your comments about injuries and the unsuitability of commercial vans make sense, though. We had a 2015 Transit as a wheelchair van for our daughter, and that would be the last thing I'd want to enter and exit 100 times a day. I think the new Rivian van would be a perfect fit and better overall value, but the upfront purchase cost is much steeper. I'd hope some of their COTS purchase includes the Rivian vans; they look like the perfect answer to me. And they're marginally better-looking than the NGDV.
This might make sense with fuel costs, though. The charging infrastructure has to be built regardless, and each day you're chugging through gas in 30+ year old LLVs is a day you're throwing money out the window to excessive fuel and maintenance costs. We don't know how fast AM General can get the NGDVs out the door, but these E-Transits may pay for themselves with fuel savings. Infrastructure costs are a one-time expense, and the Level 2 chargers are only going to cost a fraction of what DC fast chargers would.
The E-Transit is probably the cheapest available option with a starting price under $50K. Your comments about injuries and the unsuitability of commercial vans make sense, though. We had a 2015 Transit as a wheelchair van for our daughter, and that would be the last thing I'd want to enter and exit 100 times a day. I think the new Rivian van would be a perfect fit and better overall value, but the upfront purchase cost is much steeper. I'd hope some of their COTS purchase includes the Rivian vans; they look like the perfect answer to me. And they're marginally better-looking than the NGDV.
This might make sense with fuel costs, though. The charging infrastructure has to be built regardless, and each day you're chugging through gas in 30+ year old LLVs is a day you're throwing money out the window to excessive fuel and maintenance costs. We don't know how fast AM General can get the NGDVs out the door, but these E-Transits may pay for themselves with fuel savings. Infrastructure costs are a one-time expense, and the Level 2 chargers are only going to cost a fraction of what DC fast chargers would.
The new NGDV's are not made by AM General, they are in fact made by Oshkosh Defense. You can see all the different war vehicles they also make on this link. https://oshkoshdefense.com/vehicles/
9250 E-transit vans which probably equates to a $400,000,000 investment plus infrastructure costs is a fools errand to say the least. I don't say that because they're electric but because on the heels of this move is the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle NGDV which should makes it's debut later this year or early next.
It's clear to see why the EV fleet is starting in Atlanta. As Tom has clearly illustrated, the ev's don't like cold weather. The E transit will have a whopping 126 mile range in perfect conditions. I understand the logic the PO is using here as the current LLV's have a 12.5 gallon tank and at best achieve 10 MPG's.
The commercial vans are really hard to wok out of when one is ingress/egressing 40+ times per day. Gonna be lots of injuries, strains and sprains as the step in height is ridiculous for that type of use. Unlike Tom's Lightning, the vans are only RWD, another dumb move. But hey, the good news is, they'll have AC, a radio and Ford's copilot 360 on board.
They should have waited till Oshkosh was ready to role out the NGDV and have the infrastructure already built and ready accept the new fleet.
I fully support and embrace the use of electric delivery trucks, just makes sense but this agenda is a waste of your tax dollars.
I've had a couple of deliveries from Amazon and they had one of those eTransits. High top van like the Promasters currently in use with USPS. I think it must have been a rental because it was all white and no Amazon markings other than a temp magnetic sign on the door.
It's clear to see why the EV fleet is starting in Atlanta. As Tom has clearly illustrated, the ev's don't like cold weather. The E transit will have a whopping 126 mile range in perfect conditions. I understand the logic the PO is using here as the current LLV's have a 12.5 gallon tank and at best achieve 10 MPG's.
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Are there mentions of if that 126 mile range includes cargo and stop-and-go or is it a variant of EPA city test loop?
I don't know if current LLVs have any sort of cooling and heating measure so that could be another pain point, maybe the current drivers just tough it out in the cold or heat and humidity, someone more familiar with the postal service will have to chime in.
Are there mentions of if that 126 mile range includes cargo and stop-and-go or is it a variant of EPA city test loop?
I don't know if current LLVs have any sort of cooling and heating measure so that could be another pain point, maybe the current drivers just tough it out in the cold or heat and humidity, someone more familiar with the postal service will have to chime in.
The LLV's were designed and built starting in the early 80's from a Chevy mini truck of that era. They use a 151 ci engine known as the iron duke and a 4sp trans. No ac but good heat.
In certain applications, anything is better than what we're using currently if AC is a concern. The issue is, the LLV's and the NGDV's are / will be purpose built for the job and not another off the shelf bandade like the Promaster and the Mercedes Metris vans.
Tom, thanks for the input on the power dynamics of the van. I know you had a Transit some time ago and thought you may find the article and my comments interesting.
The LLV's were designed and built starting in the early 80's from a Chevy mini truck of that era. They use a 151 ci engine known as the iron duke and a 4sp trans. No ac but good heat.
In certain applications, anything is better than what we're using currently if AC is a concern. The issue is, the LLV's and the NGDV's are / will be purpose built for the job and not another off the shelf bandade like the Promaster and the Mercedes Metris vans.
Of all the ICE vehicles out there the LLV is the most sensible to be replaced by something that can handle stop and go better. I hope the NGDV works out well.
Of all the ICE vehicles out there the LLV is the most sensible to be replaced by something that can handle stop and go better. I hope the NGDV works out well.
The NGDV is supposedly going to be built on a 3/4 ton chassis made by Oshkosh Defense and powered with a Ford drive train consisting of a 2.0L engine and an 8 or 10 sp trans. It'll have the Ford copilot system which is nice and again, supposedly, some will be AWD and the rest, RWD. I'm not certain of the electric variant but I think Ford is also providing that drive train as well. As for how many drive wheel on the E version, I'm not certain but knowing the USPS as I do, they'll cheat and get away with the cheapest.
But you are correct sir, the LLV's are the cockroach of the automobile world. They last though they've all been rebuilt numerous times but they've proven to be unsafe, very combustible and thirsty as a Ford V-10.
The NGDV is supposedly going to be built on a 3/4 ton chassis made by Oshkosh Defense and powered with a Ford drive train consisting of a 2.0L engine and an 8 or 10 sp trans. It'll have the Ford copilot system which is nice and again, supposedly, some will be AWD and the rest, RWD. I'm not certain of the electric variant but I think Ford is also providing that drive train as well. As for how many drive wheel on the E version, I'm not certain but knowing the USPS as I do, they'll cheat and get away with the cheapest.
But you are correct sir, the LLV's are the cockroach of the automobile world. They last though they've all been rebuilt numerous times but they've proven to be unsafe, very combustible and thirsty as a Ford V-10.
A 3/4 ton chassis powered by a 2.0L engine. I suppose that 2.0L must be a Eco Boost in order to make any significant power?
