The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been in the news lately due to the controversy surrounding its contract with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Oshkosh Defense. The Postal Service had announced plans to replace its aging fleet of delivery vehicles with a modern, more sustainable fleet of EVs. However, the contract awarded to Oshkosh Defense has raised concerns among environmental advocates and some members of Congress.
The Postal Service had originally planned to award the contract to an EV manufacturer called Workhorse Group. Workhorse is a company that focuses exclusively on producing electric delivery vehicles and had presented a strong bid for the Postal Service contract. However, the contract was ultimately awarded to Oshkosh Defense, a company that has primarily focused on producing military vehicles.
This decision has raised concerns among environmental advocates who argue that Oshkosh Defense may not have the necessary expertise to produce a fleet of sustainable EVs. Additionally, some members of Congress have expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the contract award process, leading to calls for an investigation into the decision-making behind the contract award.
There are also concerns over the potential for the new Postal Service EV fleet to be powered by electric energy derived from non-renewable sources, such as coal-fired power plants. While EVs themselves produce no emissions, the power used to charge them can come from a variety of sources, some of which may still rely on fossil fuels.
Despite these concerns, the Postal Service has defended its decision to award the contract to Oshkosh Defense, stating that the company has a proven track record of producing high-quality vehicles and has promised to prioritize sustainability in the production of the Postal Service`s new EV fleet.
It remains to be seen what the ultimate impact of the Postal Service`s contract with Oshkosh Defense will be on the environment and the future of sustainable transportation. However, it is clear that the decision has raised important questions about the role of government agencies in promoting sustainability and the transparency of the contract award process.