CLIMATE INNOVATION NETWORK

About Verdantix

© 2025 Verdantix. All rights reserved.

How They Do It: USPS To Cut 40% Of Its Emissions With More Than 66,000 EVs

Feb 15, 2024

·

2 min read

Written by

Alessandra Leggieri
Decarbonization
Cover Image for How They Do It: USPS To Cut 40% Of Its Emissions With More Than 66,000 EVs

Join Verdantix Vantage, our new platform providing complimentary and unlimited access to the entire portfolio of Verdantix research for qualifying practitioners

Join now

Part of a Climate Innovation Network series profiling the firms making real climate progress

Transportation was the highest emitting sector in the US in 2021, responsible for 29% of overall emissions. Over two-thirds of this came from light-duty vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty trucks – in other words, road fleets. Scopes 1 and 3 fleet emissions are highly material to firms in several industries, but for postal services and courier organizations they represent the vast majority of their total carbon footprint. Investing in the transition to low-carbon vehicles and infrastructure is key to achieve significant contribution to firms’ net zero goals.

Who:
The US Postal Services (USPS), an independent federal agency providing postal services across the US, with over 640,000 employees.

What particular challenges do they face?
The USPS has set a goal to reduce its Scope 1 emissions by 40% by 2030, which involves decarbonizing more than 246,000 vehicles. The fleet includes vehicles of all sizes, the majority of which are smaller, from 0.5 - 2.5 tonnes, as well as some larger tractors and trailers. One of the main challenges is the higher upfront cost of EVs compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, together with the supply of vehicles and charging infrastructure design and deployment.

What is their net zero strategy?
Part of the USPS’s net zero strategy and 10-year Delivering for America (DFTA) plan is to move freight from air to road, optimize routes for trucks and carriers, procure zero emissions and reduced emissions vehicles, and build a nationwide network of EV charging stations.

How will it be implemented?
In January 2023, USPS announced it will:

  • Procure 21,000 EVs from Ford Motor Company and complement that with 45,000 Oshkosh electric delivery vehicles – designed specifically for USPS – by 2028.
  • Install 14,000 charging stations at 400 sorting and delivery centres worldwide, manufactured by Siemens, Rexel/ChargePoint and Blink.
  • Keep increasing cargo capacity of vehicles to reduce second trips and refine delivery routes, therefore optimizing operations and reducing emissions.

In order to execute its net zero and network modernization plan, UPSP received $3 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), of which $1.29 billion is dedicated to purchasing net zero emissions vehicles and $1.71 billion for infrastructure design.

Where you can find out more:
To read more about how USPS plans to roll out one of the largest EV fleets in the US, read its press release here.

If you are interested in finding out more about the fleet decarbonization market, including corporate strategies to decarbonize and new trends across technologies and solutions providers, stay tuned for the upcoming Verdantix Market Overview: Fleet Decarbonization.

Share:

Written by

AL
Author provider

Alessandra Leggieri

Alessandra Leggieri is an Industry Analyst in the Verdantix Net Zero & Climate Risk practice. Her current research agenda focuses on solutions for GHG emissions and net zero management, covering technologies and services. Prior to joining Verdantix, Alessandra completed an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London.

Curiosity Applied

The Curiosity Applied podcast

Dedicated to exploring the scale, shape and velocity of change in the business world as our economic system adapts to sustainability changes and climate risk.

Listen now

More from Alessandra Leggieri

Three Steps To Prepare For The EU Deforestation Rules
Regulations & Standards

Three Steps To Prepare For The EU Deforestation Rules

Dec 6, 2023

Stricter Regulatory Landscape Will Drive Net Zero Consulting Services Market To Exceed $15 Billion
Net Zero

Stricter Regulatory Landscape Will Drive Net Zero Consulting Services Market To Exceed $15 Billion

Jun 4, 2023

Analyst Insight: The Inside Scoop On Fleet Decarbonization
Decarbonization

Analyst Insight: The Inside Scoop On Fleet Decarbonization

Apr 29, 2024

10 Innovations In The ESG And Sustainability Market
Net Zero

10 Innovations In The ESG And Sustainability Market

Jan 12, 2024

Related content

Decarbonization

Vehicle-To-X (V2X): Powering The Future Of Energy And Mobility

May 8, 2025

Decarbonization

Taking The Long View: NYC’s Pension Funds Double Down On Climate

May 7, 2025

Decarbonization

Three Considerations For Tackling Product Carbon Emissions

Apr 14, 2025

Decarbonization

How They Do It: ING Becomes First Bank With SBTi Approved Financed Emissions Reduction Targets

Apr 9, 2025