Those awesome USPS EVs might be jeopardized by Donald Trump’s stupidity
The USPS’ upcoming electric vehicles, which promise more reliability and comfort for drivers, cost savings for the agency, and cleaner air for communities nationwide, might be in jeopardy, according to a report from Reuters.
The US Post Office has been running the same vehicles, Grumman LLVs, since the late 80s. Every mail truck on the road today is at least 30 years old – and if you live in the US, you can tell.
While they’ve served their purpose well for a long time, the trucks are smelly, noisy, and at this point feel like they’re on their last legs.
For the last decade, there has been a process in place to replace these vehicles. The USPS has been taking bids for contracts for the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs), with several different powertrains represented in the bidding.
But electrification is a perfect choice for delivery vehicles. These vehicles do set daily routes with lots of starting and stopping, in neighborhoods where people live and breathe, and return back to the same place every night. It’s an ideal application for EVs.
So, the USPS settled on a contract with Oshkosh in 2021 to build NGDVs, right here in America, after a lot of back and forth.
But the original plan only included some 10% electric trucks. The vast majority of the purchase would still consist of 8.6mpg gas guzzlers.
So the back-and-forth continued, with Congressional committee hearings, lawsuits, and the Senate (and, of course, we here at Electrek) all pushing corrupt Postmaster DeJoy – who was appointed by Mr. Trump – into making a real commitment to electrify the fleet, as was one of President Biden’s first commitments in office.
All this pressure resulted in the USPS doubling and then doubling again its purchase intent, and finally committing to 100% BEV purchases after 2026, with only a small number of fossil-powered vehicles to come from Oshkosh before then. USPS will also buy some number of off-the-shelf EVs, with a big contract already handed out to Ford for 9,250 E-Transits.
Of course, as we’ve become familiar with in this whole process, the rollout of NGDVs was also delayed. But in September, NGDVs finally started rolling out, and it turns out they’re better than expected.
Drivers, so far, absolutely love them – they offer more features, like air conditioning which the LLVs didn’t have, and are more comfortable to use leading to less chance of repetitive stress injuries. And of course they’re beneficial for neighborhoods (who don’t have to rush to close their window whenever they hear one coming… like I do).
USPS’ awesome new EVs jeopardized as Mr. Trump favors more pollution, higher costs
But, last month, on his third attempt (and after committing treason in 2021, for which there is a clear legal remedy), Mr. Trump finally managed to get more votes than his opponent for the first time. So now, America is dealing with the fallout of just less than 50% of its voters choosing to vote for an astoundingly ignorant individual, who has openly promised to make Americans’ lives worse in all sorts of ways.
It’s no secret that Mr. Trump and the republican party are anti-EV, and favor more costly vehicles, dirtier air, and harming US manufacturing by letting China get the lead on EVs. The campaign has promised repeatedly to end the boom in domestic jobs and investment brought by President Biden’s EVs policies, and send US manufacturing back to the stone age.
Reuters is reporting that Mr. Trump, whose corrupt postmaster tried to pump the brakes on the EV transition in the first place, now wants to cancel the contract that would bring this peace and quiet to your neighborhood via US-built electric mail vehicles. Oshkosh is hiring 1,000 additional employees for a new facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina to build the trucks.
It would also inevitably raise the cost of sending mail, since it jeopardizes the cost savings that the new EVs represent – estimated at $4.3 billion total saved.
However, the legal pathway to go about doing this is unclear. The USPS is an independent agency, not directly under the control of the US executive. Its Board of Governors is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, but whoever is sitting in the White House doesn’t actually get direct control over the Post Office.
Further, the money to purchase NGDVs was already allocated by Congress, and the contract has already started being fulfilled, both by Oshkosh and by Ford. And that money isn’t under the control of the executive, either.
So, like much of what Mr. Trump says, this plan likely breaks the law (whatever the law means anymore). Not that further lawbreaking would be a surprise from a convicted felon, nor that ignorance of how the law works would be surprising from a former reality TV host who doesn’t know much of anything.
It’s also unclear what would replace these vehicles. The last bidding process took nearly a decade, and USPS LLVs are on their last legs. As summers get hotter and hotter (happening due to the climate change that Mr. Trump is determined to make worse), drivers need relief in the form of vehicles with air conditioning. Another ten-year bidding cycle means more pain for those drivers.
Delays would mean lost cost savings. The USPS Office of the Inspector General recently put out an update on the process to modernize fleet vehicles, stating that delays in acquiring BEVs will cost the Post Office $77 million in lost expected savings just this year and next. Those lost expected savings would be compounded by further delays.
A transition team spokesperson didn’t comment on this specific plan, but told Reuters that Mr. Trump aims to “protect the freedom of Americans to drive whichever vehicle they choose” – which doesn’t make any sense because these are postal trucks, not personal vehicles, and more-polluting vehicles certainly jeopardize the freedom of people to breathe non-poisoned air – and that he will “save the US auto industry for generations to come,” which waffling on US-built EVs and canceling laws that have led to a boom in US manufacturing will not do.
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Environment
EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member’s Festival
Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.
EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:
Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.
To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.
EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”
Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:
In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.
In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.
To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.
Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival
As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.
As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.
Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!
Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.
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Tesla is losing another top talent: its long-time head of software, David Lau, has reportedly told co-workers that he is exiting the automaker.
Tesla changed how the entire auto industry looks at software.
Before Tesla, it was an afterthought; user interfaces were rudimentary, and you had to go to a dealership to get a software update on your systems.
When Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, it all changed. Your car would get better through software updates like your phone, the large center display was responsive with a UI that actually made sense and was closer to an iPad experience than a car.
Tesla also integrated its software into its retail experience, service, and manufacturing.
David Lau deserves a lot of the credit for that.
He joined Tesla in 2012 as a senior manager of firmware engineering and quickly rose through the ranks. By 2014, he was promoted to director of firmware engineering and system integration, and in 2017, he became Vice President of software.
Lau listed the responsibilities of his team on his LinkedIn:
- Vehicle Software:
- Firmware for the powertrain, traction/stability control, HV electronics, battery management, and body control systems
- UI software and underlying Embedded Linux platforms
- Navigation and routing
- iOS and Android Mobile apps
- Distributed Systems:
- Server-side software and infrastructure that provides telemetry, diagnostics, over-the-air updates, and configuration/lifecycle management
- Data engineering and analytics platforms that power technical and business insights for an increasingly diverse set of customers across the company
- Diagnostic tools and fleet management, Manufacturing and Automation:
- Automation controls (PLC, robot)
- Server-side manufacturing execution systems that power all of Tesla’s production operations
- Product Security and Red Team for software, services, and systems across Tesla
Bloomberg reported today that Lau told his team he is leaving Tesla. The report didn’t include reasons for his stepping down.
Electrek’s Take
Twelve years at any company is a great run. At Tesla, it’s heroic. Congrats, David, on a great run. You undoubtedly had a significant impact on Tesla and software advancements in the broader auto industry.
He is another significant loss for Tesla, which has been losing a lot of top talent following a big wave of layoffs around this time last year.
I wonder who will take over. Michael Rizkalla, senior director of software engineering and vehicle firmware, is one of the most senior software engineers after Lau. He has been at Tesla for 7 years, and Tesla likes to promote within rather than hire outsiders.
There are also a lot of senior software execs working on AI at Tesla. Musk has been favoring them lately and he could fold Lau’s responsibilities under them.
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Kia’s electric SUVs are taking over. The EV3 is the best-selling retail EV in the UK this year, giving Kia its strongest sales start since it arrived 34 years ago. And it’s not just in the UK. Kia just had its best first quarter globally since it started selling cars in 1962.
Kia EV3 is the best-selling EV in the UK through March
In March, Kia sold a record nearly 20,000 vehicles in the UK, making it the fourth best-selling brand. It was also the second top-seller of electrified vehicles (EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs), accounting for over 55% of sales.
The EV3 remained the best-selling retail EV in the UK last month. Including the EV6, three-row EV9, and Niro EV, electric vehicles represented 21% of Kia’s UK sales in March.
Kia said the EV3 “started with a bang” in January, darting out as the UK’s most popular EV in retail sales. Through March, Kia’s electric SUV has held on to the crown. With the EV3 rolling out, Kia sold over 7,000 electric cars through March, nearly 50% more than in Q1 2024.
The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK in the first quarter and the fourth best-selling EV overall, including commercial vehicles.
Starting at £33,005 ($42,500), Kia said it’s the “brand’s most affordable EV yet.” It’s available with two battery packs, 58.3 kWh or 81.48 kWh, good for 430 km (270 miles) and 599 km (375 miles) of WLTP range, respectively.
With new EVs on the way, this could be just the start. Kia is launching several new EVs in the UK this year, including the EV4 sedan (and hatchback) and EV5 SUV. It also confirmed that the first PV5 electric vans will be delivered to customers by the end of the year.
Electrek’s Take
Globally, Kia sold a record 772,351 vehicles in the first quarter, its best since it started selling cars in 1962. With the new EV4, the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback, launching this year, Kia looks to build on its momentum in 2025.
Kia has also made it very clear that it wants to be a global leader in the electric van market with its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, starting with the PV5 later this year.
Earlier today, we learned Kia’s midsize electric SUV, the EV5, is the fourth best-selling EV in Australia through March, outselling every BYD vehicle (at least for now). The EV5 is rolling out to new markets this year, including Canada, the UK, South Korea, and Mexico. However, it will not arrive in the US.
For those in the US, there are still a few Kia EVs to look forward to. Kia is launching the EV4 globally, including in the US, later this year. Although no date has been set, Kia confirmed the EV3 is also coming. It’s expected to arrive in mid-2026.
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