The battle for the new U.S. Postal Service vehicle
continues, as a new prototype of Karsan’s proposal has been spied out testing
again. The vehicle is unlike anything you’ve seen on this site before, but it’s
still quite an important vehicle – after all, if approved for production and
given a contract, the manufacturer will have to produce no less than 180,000 of
it, an estimated US$ 6.3 billion worth of business.
From what we know so far, Karsan’s machine will be a
hybrid. Our photographers report they’ve heard a gasoline engine, which will be
supported by electric power for more efficient slow-traffic acceleration. The
charging point on the right side indicates it’s actually a plug-in hybrid
powertrain.
These new photos, taken somewhere in Ohio, reveal
the postal truck will come equipped with side windows with integrated
defrosters, a feature that’s not available on any other production vehicle at
the moment, as well as a sliding cargo door. According to Trucks.com, the side
windows defrosters could be an answer to recent mail carrier complaints about
the current mail truck, which suffers from poor insulation in cold climates.
The truck, developed in cooperation between the
Turkish automaker and U.S. van manufacturer Morgan Olson, will also offer an
air-conditioning for the first time, and a more tech-focused interior with
potentially even a 360-degree camera. Also, those headlights appear to be LED.
Karsan’s model is one of a total of five entries
bidding for a contract with USPS. The agency is looking to replace the old
Grumman Long Life Vehicle trucks, which has been serving as the standard
delivery truck since 1987, and is currently evaluating entries from Karsan, AM
General, Oshkosh Corp., Mahindra, and a partnership between VT Hackney and
Workhorse Group. The winning contract is expected to be announced before the
year’s end.
