Cummins Providing USPS With Fully-Electric Vehicles

Delivery has begun delivery of eight Cummins-powered all-electric vehicles to the United States Postal Service (USPS) for use in California. The fully-electric Cummins PowerDrive equipped vans are part of a pilot program, made possible by a grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) and administered by CALSTART.

This USPS Zero-Emission Delivery Truck Pilot Commercial Demonstration is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The program will place the eight fully-electric vehicles in Fresno and Stockton. Cummins will also provide operator training, vehicle support and data collection to support the program.

The eight Cummins-powered vans will be in service by March 31, 2019. The vans have an all-electric range up to 85 miles with a full load on urban drive cycles typical of USPS collection vehicles. The direct drive architecture provides improved performance in power and efficiency, Cummins said. The vans use the same charging system as passenger electric vehicles (SAE J1772 Level 2) and can reach a full charge in about eight hours, making overnight charging a viable option.

“We’re excited to provide the US Postal Service with these fully-electric vehicles for demonstration and testing. Cummins has a storied history of providing dependable, quality innovations to help power a world that is always on,” said Julie Furber, vice president – Electrified Power, Cummins. “This program demonstrates our ability to help customers do real work in the real world. Cummins is committed to continue as the leading power supplier in all the markets we serve. As infrastructure and customer demand evolve, we’ll have the right technology at the right time.”