In March, Cummins began delivering eight Cummins-powered all-electric vehicles to the United States Postal Service (USPS) in California. The fully-electric Cummins PowerDrive equipped vans are expected to reduce fuel and maintenance costs as well as eliminate emissions. The vans will enter service in the cities of Fresno and Stockton.
The eight Cummins-powered vans have an all-electric range up to 85 miles with a full load on urban drive cycles typical of USPS collection vehicles. The direct drive architecture provides improved performance over the gasoline-powered version in critical areas of power and efficiency. The vans use the same charging system as passenger electric vehicles (SAE J1772 Level 2) and can reach a full charge in about eight hours, making overnight charging a viable option.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.