Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

thedrive.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

211–220 of 398 posts

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#211

Post by pionar »

Robotbeat wrote: post #200
nradov wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At most post offices the trucks are parked outside without electrical outlets nearby. Sure those can be built but it will take a while. In many cases the circuit supplying the facility will have to be upgraded.

Any parking lot with lamp posts has electricity. Takes way less time to install an exterior outlet than it does to build a vehicle.

Those lamp posts aren't close to every space.

Are you going to run extension cords for the 150+ feet to each outlying vehicle? No?

Then you have to tear up asphalt to lay down new lines. That's not cheap, especially with a USPS that's so strapped for money right now (for political reasons).

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#212

Post by aidenn0 »

robocat wrote: post #185
cialowicz wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having a nose that crumples is helpful in case of accidents. Turns out that VW Vanagons are deathtraps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmixmEkfLu0

The Wikipedia article gives examples of safety tests where the T3 tested as relatively safe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2_(T3)#Safety_...

The T3 has a nose though...

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#213

Post by pionar »

Robotbeat wrote: post #147
s0rce wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe the charging infrastructure isn't available?

A literal 120V exterior outlet? 83% of these vehicles drive in the city. They drive on average 18 miles a day (typical routes being about 45 miles). You don't need a 150kW Supercharger station, you just need a 1.2kW regular old 120V exterior outlet used for trimming the bushes. Even a cheap RV hookup would be overkill. If a federal government agency in the most powerful national on the planet can't take the most obvi…

A) The USPS is not technically a government agency. B) They're pretty strapped for funding right now.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#214

Post by Hnrobert42 »

chrisseaton wrote: post #37
marcinzm wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same reason Amazon runs its own shipping network instead of relying on UPS or Fedex. At a certain scale it is cheaper to get a custom option that specifically fits your needs rather than retro-fitting something else. The USPS bought 100,000 of the last truck and, for example, one of the requirements was long service life. Building a truck you can use for 30 years is probably much cheaper than buying multiple lowe…

> The same reason Amazon runs its own shipping network instead of relying on UPS or Fedex. Amazon use off-the-shelf vehicles though. > one of the requirements was long service life I wonder how they require that. Does the manufacturer have to warranty them all for 30 years? That's extraordinary!

It’s a good question. I went looking for an answer. I found this article [1] which claims the long service life owes to an engine and chassis that, while not exceptionally durable, is cheap and easy to maintain.

The article also says you can learn more at llv.com.

Bonus, I learned that Grumman LLV stands for Grumman Long Life Vehicle. Maybe everyone else already knew that, but I thought it was cool.

1 - https://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/02/22/avoidable-contact-...

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#215

Post by aidenn0 »

analog31 wrote: post #101

If I could specify exactly what I want a vehicle to do, and have it designed for me, it would look weird too: 1. All electric 2. Can transport a double bass 3. But no bigger than necessary 4. Meets decent safety requirements

My sister could fit a contrabasoon into a Toyota Matrix, but not anything much smaller; not sure if that would hold a bass.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#216

Post by colineartheta »

hellbannedguy wrote: post #166
chrismartin wrote: post #113

Looks aside, air conditioning is a win for postal workers in hot climates. The Grumman LLV doesn't have it, and postal workers are required to keep the windows shut when they leave the vehicle, even in 115°F days in Phoenix.

I imagine they will keep a few gas powered vehicles for very hot climates.

What? AC is unrelated to the energy source of the drivetrain.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#217

Post by dehrmann »

TylerE wrote: post #168
dehrmann wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think Amazon does letter deliveries from the driver seat.

Wouldn't it be funny if they did? I can imagine perhaps USPS contracting out some low volume routes to Amazon.

I bet it's the opposite. Amazon delivers in densely populated places where economies of scale make it work and outsources rural delivery to the USPS, an agency with a universal delivery mandate. Yes, the net effect is Amazon "leeching" off the government, but you could also view it as a subsidy to rural Americans, and the government already has a lot of those.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#218

Post by djur »

masswerk wrote: post #196

This made me wonder: has there ever been such a thing as brutalist car design? (Meaning, a car designed for public services, exposing construction and functional requirements in a sculptural expression, which is not dictated by marketing requirements.)

The original jeep? Pretty much no ornamentation on these, lots of exposed structural parts, and most of the external coverings are practical (protective of the mechanisms and/or people in the vehicle). This basic design went directly into civilian service without any significant modifications (although the spartan aesthetic ended up being part of the marketing -- Willys even trademarked the grille design!).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_MB

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#219

Post by Hamuko »

Robotbeat wrote: post #208
lazide wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many of these buildings are not owned by the USPS. Many of these buildings do not have adequate electrical right now. USPS has 30k buildings. Paying someone to build vehicles is much different than retrofitting buildings, each in a different jurisdiction, in many cases that you do not own, to allow plugging in a huge number of vehicles in all sorts of weather conditions - in the middle of often uncovered parking.

It's just not that hard. I charge in uncovered driveway. With an exterior outlet. In the winter or summer, doesn't matter. It's simply not that hard.

Do you also run a national mail delivery business?

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#220

Post by ksec »

Robotbeat wrote: post #200
nradov wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At most post offices the trucks are parked outside without electrical outlets nearby. Sure those can be built but it will take a while. In many cases the circuit supplying the facility will have to be upgraded.

Any parking lot with lamp posts has electricity. Takes way less time to install an exterior outlet than it does to build a vehicle.

1. Do they park at the same place every night?

2. Do they have to install electrical charging to all possible parking space?

3. Are these installation paid by government or the USPS?

4. Are those installation done on government property? Or on private property? Do the owner agree to do so?

5. Miles and Maintenance / TCO flavour Electric in these usage?

6. Insurance?

Post reply on HN