North Carolina State Mail Delivery Goes Electric

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is highlighting efforts to electrify state mail delivery through the Department of Administration (NCDOA). On August 18, the governor toured the new NCDOA Mail Service Center and viewed the new fleet of NCDOA electric vans that are used for mail delivery.

NCDOA has seven new Ford E-Transit cargo vans and six charging stations that are used to transport mail between state government agencies. The electric vans are in their first month of operation and are charged onsite at the Mail Service Center (MSC).

The MSC which operates as a courier service for mail and packages between state government agencies, universities, and community colleges. The MSC handles 8.7 million letters and packages annually, including samples to and from the North Carolina State Laboratory.

“North Carolina is focused on transitioning to a clean transportation future, and state government is leading the way,” Governor Cooper said. “These electric vans are just one example of how our state is working to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost our economy and save taxpayers money.”

When fully charged, the vans can travel up to 126 miles before needing to recharge. Together, the vans travel 97,000 miles annually, resulting in fuel cost savings of more than $14,000 dollars per year, according to a press release. Replacing fuel-operated vehicles with electric vans will save approximately 43 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent on annual basis, the state reports. Additionally, the state is expected to save approximately 40% of maintenance costs compared to their gas-powered equivalents over the life of the vehicle. 

In January 2022, the governor signed Executive Order 246, which lays out the next steps to transition North Carolina to a clean energy economy. It also takes steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution from the transportation sector, the state’s leading source of emissions, by establishing goals of having 1.25 million zero-emission vehicles registered and 50% of all new light-duty vehicle sales being zero-emission by 2030.