USPS awards ZAP engineering contract

USPS has awarded electric car pioneer ZAP an engineering contract for the design and development of an electric version of its Long Life Vehicle (LLV). ZAP will convert the gasoline mail truck to run on electricity as specified by the USPS at facilities in Santa Rosa, California. Following completion the converted vehicle will undergo field trials in the Washington, DC metropolitan area later this year. ZAP was selected along with four other firms in a competitive bid process held nationwide by the USPS.

USPS operates a fleet of approximately 142,000 LLVs as part of the largest civilian fleet in the world, according to USPS sources, with 218,684 vehicles travelling more than 1.25bn miles each year. The USPS fleet consumed 444m gallons of fuel in 2009, costing roughly $1.1bn. Agency vehicles average 10.4 miles per gallon since most drive slowly and make frequent stops with the engine idling between mailboxes.