AC Propulsion, AutoPort partner to develop electric vehicle for USPS

June 24, 2010

AC Propulsion and AutoPort have announced that they will partner in engineering, development, and conversion to provide an electric vehicle conversion prototype and report for the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS chose this as one of five solutions in a feasibility study for the possible conversion of its 142,000 long-life vehicles (LLV) to plug-in battery electric vehicles.

With this conversion, the current USPS LLV design will be stripped of the gasoline engine, transmission, and other components and refitted with the AC Propulsion AC-150 drive system, an integrated power system that includes an AC induction motor, inverter, charger, and 12-V power supply.

AutoPort will convert the vehicle on-site at its facilities in New Castle, Del. The converted vehicle will comply with Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Safety SAE J2344, as well as all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The converted vehicles will be tested against USPS’s requirements at AutoPort’s facilities and then placed into service in the Washington, D.C., metro area for at least one year, where they will be monitored for carrier satisfaction, cost of operation, and maintenance.