Ford is a juggernaut in the automotive industry, and now the blue oval will be helping to build USPS mail trucks by Oshkosh. Although the contract for these new delivery vehicles was awarded to the Oshkosh Defense company, the organization will be getting engines, transmissions, and other components from the Ford Motor Company, marking Ford’s commitment to growing in the world of commercial business. So, what engine will be powering the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle alongside electric mail trucks?

What engine do mail trucks use?

The new Oshkosh NGDV will be powered by some kind of 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine provided by Ford. According to Ford Authority, it is unclear which engine Ford will be providing exactly, but it should be more efficient than what is currently in the Grumman LLV mail truck. In addition to using an engine from Ford, the NGDV also has the ability to come outfitted with an electric powertrain. 

Currently, about 90% of NGDV delivery trucks will come with a combustion engine, while 10% will be EVs. These numbers do clash with an executive order issued by President Biden calling for government fleets to transition to zero-emission vehicles. But, Oshkosh has stated that the order can be changed to add more EV models. 

Is the Oshkosh NGDV electric?

While the vast majority of NGDV orders are for ones equipped with combustion engines, the Oshkosh can come outfitted with an electric powertrain. This will help make mail trucks more efficient and have less of an environmental impact. Earlier this month, the Postal Service announced that it would be reviewing its original environmental impact study regarding the new mail truck. This comes in the face of serious scrutiny by other government agencies such as the EPA. 

USPS is planning to review its mail routes in order to make them more effective. This could mean that more EV mail trucks are on the way if they are deemed applicable for the Postal Service’s needs. And, more EVs would certainly help the USPS be more compliant with Biden’s executive order regarding government fleets.

When is USPS getting new mail trucks?

The Oshkosh NGDV is expected to arrive at some point in 2023. This comes after the USPS announced it was looking for a replacement for the Grumman LLV back in 2015. As with most things in government, the process has been fairly slow and not without controversy. But, at the end of the day, the NGDV will be newer than the Grumman LLV and it will help to bring the Postal Service into the modern era. 

The NGDV will feature things like a 360-degree camera and more comfort features over the outgoing mail truck. And that means that mail carriers should have an easier time delivering the mail. Granted, it is worth noting that this mail truck does look fairly funny, with a resemblance to a duck. But, delivery vehicles are not meant to be pretty, especially those like the NGDV that are purpose-built to handle the important role of mail delivery.