Fleet Modernization: Facility Preparedness for Electric Vehicles at the South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center
Background
The U.S. Postal Service selected the South Atlanta Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC) as one of the first facilities for fleet electrification. It contracted for the design and installation of 236 parking spaces with charging ports to support the electrical vehicle (EV) rollout. In January 2024, 51 EVs were sent to the facility and following staff training were deployed on delivery routes. An external contractor performed the commissioning, including the electrical, network, charging, and safety testing in early March 2024.
What We Did
Our objectives were to assess whether the South Atlanta S&DC was prepared to use EVs in delivery operations and the functionality of the EV infrastructure and vehicles.
What We Found
Although the Postal Service took steps to prepare the South Atlanta S&DC and 50 EVs were in operation during our site visit, we identified 40 inoperable chargers on-site, resulting in vehicles parking improperly. We found that charging station data was incomplete, limiting monitoring of equipment and defective chargers. We also identified issues with construction, security, safety, and design planning. Specifically, we found construction issues that hindered operational efficiency and could pose safety risks. Finally, the Postal Service will incur additional construction costs, estimated at $749,996, to build necessary parking because of added routes, as the Postal Service’s design did not include a “growth” factor for additional spaces.
Recommendations and Management’s Comments
We made six recommendations regarding inoperable chargers, post-commissioning infrastructure issues, security, and additional construction needed to accommodate routes. Postal Service management disagreed with recommendations 1, 2, and 6 and agreed with recommendations 3, 4, and 5. Postal Service management’s comments and our evaluation are at the end of each finding and recommendation. Regardless of the disagreement with recommendation 2, we consider management’s comments responsive. We will pursue recommendations 1 and 6 through the formal audit resolution process.