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Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

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Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#271

Post by [deleted] »

BoorishBears wrote: post #249
gibolt wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Repair and maintenance are probably far more expensive than the gas costs, especially as a government contract. Gas prices will also increase as demand falls of a cliff over the coming decade. Electric wins on all fronts in cost, simplicity, and city health

There is no reason an efficient ICE can't have cheaper maintenance than an EV. In this day and age, reliable ICE drivetrains are pretty much a solved issue if you're not trying to make tons of horsepower (which they're not) Most of the maintenance with a modern ICE has nothing to do with the drivetrain. Tires, brakes, suspension components, filters, all things that EVs still have (brakes get a respite from regen, but…

[deleted]

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#272

Post by slimsag »

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.

I've lived in Phoenix for over a decade, where it regularly reaches 120F during the summer.

Not once have I ever seen a USPS vehicle other than the Grumman LLV, which has no AC, even during the summer months and at several different residences across the state.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#273

Post by mlyle »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #242
alacombe wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A 100 vehicle fleet would require not 100-200 Amps service, but 1500 Amp service, and that's a whole different problem.

Outlier locations will have outlier problems. That's not necessarily something to be worried about. The average post office has six delivery vehicles if I did the math right.

I am in a small town, with one post office for 40k residents. We have approximately 20 mail trucks.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#274

Post by mavhc »

clort wrote: post #265
SECProto wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd be surprised how much load runs through a chain of streetlights. 3phase/400V and they pull heavy duty conductors through the conduit. Could definitely handle multiple 120v/15A equivalents (but it'd be way cheaper and more effective to pull dedicated conduit + conductor)

also: In my city (in UK) the lamp posts date from a long time ago. Only a few years ago all the sodium lamps were replaced by lower power LEDs, which presumably means that much of the cabling is now massively redundant.

Correct, which is why they're installing lamp post EV chargers

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#275

Post by Adrig »

Robotbeat wrote: post #132

It's interesting that "cost" is the reason given for why these vehicles aren't electric, but... how could that be? Batteries for electric carmakers are not that expensive any more, maybe $150/kWh. LLVs are currently horrendously inefficient (fleet average of about 9mpg). They have a ~13 gallon tank for a range of about 120 miles. They drive about 18 miles a day on average (total fleet average, so some are idle and pr…

ITT people arguing that a country with $7 trillion of spending budget can't install a few power outlets in its post offices.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#276

Post by [deleted] »

richardw wrote: post #251
ping_pong wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How long will it take to recharge these hundreds of vehicles, and who will be around to take them out of their charging stations and move in a new vehicle? Electric vehicles are great but at scale, the issues around charging them daily are very real. It works for a single homeowner, but if a post office has 100(?) trucks, and it takes 2 hours to charge, someone needs to be there to keep track of them, unless you expe…

I think if a parking area has many vehicles in one place it might be easier to move the charging infrastructure around them. I’d assume that can be done easier than moving refuelling infrastructure. So maybe 100 vehicles could have 10 charging widgets on wheels with cords to their base point, 2 people to hook up and move to the next one that is done.

[deleted]

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#277

Post by [deleted] »

cialowicz wrote: post #139
specialist wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ya, this new design isn't nearly 'weird" enough. Why have a nose at all? Put driver's seat over the front wheels. Like the VW Vanagon (Eurovans). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2_(T3) These are gonna be EVs, right? Might as well do it right.

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

[deleted]

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#278

Post by mypalmike »

gibolt wrote: post #229
fshbbdssbbgdd wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems like you are comparing a theoretical modern EV to the terrible efficiency of the old LLV. They didn’t choose to continue buying the old LLV, they are buying a vehicle with a new ICE. So the comparison makes little sense.

Repair and maintenance are probably far more expensive than the gas costs, especially as a government contract. Gas prices will also increase as demand falls of a cliff over the coming decade. Electric wins on all fronts in cost, simplicity, and city health

Decreased demand would tend to result in reduced prices, not increased prices.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#279

Post by niffydroid »

specialist wrote: post #133
Groxx wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a stupendously low step-in height. Probably makes a huge impact in reducing RSI and other repeated-motion injuries. More weirdness please. Looks great to me.

Ya, this new design isn't nearly 'weird" enough. Why have a nose at all? Put driver's seat over the front wheels. Like the VW Vanagon (Eurovans). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Type_2_(T3) These are gonna be EVs, right? Might as well do it right.

To be honest I don't see the point of the nose. In Europe, lorries and busses have flat front and have since I was born.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#280

Post by ricardobayes »

USPS has an insane structure. Its leadership consists of government officials, but it gets 0 taxpayer funding, it's essentially a private company with government overhead. A fun-fact that its CEO, the "Postmaster General" is the second-highest paying position in the government after the President.
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