March 24, 2022-

• The Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) program offers significant benefits through the introduction of safer and more environmentally friendly vehicles for our carriers and the communities we serve

• Postal Service makes good on our pledge to accelerate our electric vehicle strategy by increasing the quantity of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as our financial condition improves and as we refine our network and vehicle operating strategy

• Postal Service has identified 10,019 specific delivery routes that present the best initial application for electric vehicles

• The flexibility in the NGDV program allows for future increases in the mix of BEVs should additional funding become available from internal or other sources, and if the use case for BEVs continues to improve  

• Through the NGDV program, Postal Service commitment to the fiscally responsible roll-out of electric-powered vehicles for America’s largest and oldest federal fleet remains ambitious and on schedule

WASHINGTON, DC — The Postal Service announced today that it placed its initial Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) delivery order with Oshkosh, WI, based Oshkosh Defense at a cost of $2.98 billion. The first order is for 50,000 vehicles – a minimum of which will be for 10,019 battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

“We are pleased to be moving forward with this much needed investment in our fleet,” said Postmaster General and USPS Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy. ”Since I came on board a year and a half ago, we have continuously evaluated and adjusted our vehicle purchase strategy based on our future network initiatives, ongoing review of BEV application to our operational strategy, and our financial outlook as we undertake our ongoing implementation of the Delivering for America plan. Based upon this work and our improving outlook, we have determined that increasing our initial electric vehicle purchase from 5,000 to 10,019 makes good sense from an operational and financial perspective. Many of our 190,000 delivery vehicles on the road are more than 30 years old and lack basic safety features which are standard in most vehicles today. The safety of the men and women of the Postal Service is our number one priority, and they have waited long enough for the NGDV. We owe it to our carriers and the communities we serve to provide safer, more efficient vehicles to fulfill our universal service obligation to deliver to 161 million addresses in all climates and topographies six days per-week.”

DeJoy added, “Today’s order demonstrates, as we have said all along, that the Postal Service is fully committed to the inclusion of electric vehicles as a significant part of our delivery fleet even though the investment will cost more than an internal combustion engine vehicle. That said, as we have also stated repeatedly, we must make fiscally prudent decisions in the needed introduction of a new vehicle fleet. We will continue to look for opportunities to increase the electrification of our delivery fleet in a responsible manner, consistent with our operating strategy, the deployment of appropriate infrastructure, and our financial condition, which we expect to continue to improve as we pursue our plan.”

Unlike the current Long Life Delivery Vehicles (LLV) the NGDV will feature air conditioning, improved ergonomics, and some of the most advanced vehicle and safety technology — including 360-degree cameras, advanced braking and traction control, air bags, a front-and rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual, audio warning, and automatic braking. The vehicles will also have increased cargo capacity to maximize efficiency and better accommodate higher mail and package volumes.

It is expected the NGDVs will begin appearing on carrier routes in late 2023.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

MOUNT VERNON, WA — A perennial source of beauty on U.S. stamps, flowers evoke emotions that transcend words. The Postal Service’s new Tulips Forever stamp offers bright, cheerful tulips certain to elicit positive reactions when they appear on letters and cards.

Similar in design to the 2-ounce Sunflower Bouquet stamp, which was also issued in 2022, the Tulips Forever stamp can be used on the RSVP envelopes often enclosed with wedding invitations. In addition to regular correspondence, the stamp is perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes and other important announcements

Designed by art director Ethel Kessler, with digital photography by Harold Davis, the Tulips Forever stamp features a colorful, eye-catching array of red, orange, yellow, purple and white tulips against a bright white background. To create this image, Davis backlit a wide, horizontal arrangement of flowers on a light box. Since this composition was wider than his camera could photograph at high resolution, Davis made three separate images, moving from left to right. Each image was exposed six times at different exposure values. He digitally combined the resulting 18 captures to form the single image.

The result is a luminous, almost ethereal, assortment of overlapping tulips in a profusion of color. Davis’ intent was to create a cheerful vision that encourages feelings of happiness.

The words “FOREVER” in purple and “USA” in red appear below the panorama of tulips on the stamp. The stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price

Lawrence, KS — The Postal Service issued a new 2-ounce stamp today featuring a beautiful sunflower bouquet. This stamp is ideal for heavy letters and invitations, and pairs perfectly with the Tulips Forever stamp, which was also released today. The stamp was issued in Lawrence, KS, without a ceremony.

This new stamp features five sunflowers as part of a bright and beautiful bouquet. The stamp forms a natural pair with the Tulips Forever stamp, which can be used on RSVP envelopes that are often enclosed with wedding invitations. In addition to regular correspondence, the stamp is perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes and important announcements.

The stamp art is a still-life image of several orange-and-yellow sunflowers intermingled with irises, dahlias, echinacea (coneflowers) and other small red, purple, white and pink flowers against a white background. To create this image, the photographer backlit the arrangement of flowers on a light box and made eight photographic exposures, resulting in a luminous, transparent look.

Long treasured for bringing cheer to a summer landscape or garden, sunflowers grow in a variety of sizes and colors that make them popular in bouquets of cut flowers. When combined with other flowers, bouquets like the one on this stamp convey a fond announcement of friendship and love.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with digital photography by Harold Davis.

The words “Two Ounce” on this stamp indicate its usage value. Like a Forever stamp, this stamp will always be valid for the rate printed on it. The Sunflower Bouquet 2-ounce stamp is sold in a pane of 20 stamps.