[pounce]

Yes, sure. I like them and have no issues with these and my national pride is not bruised. This from someone that is formally trained in design. I only hope they have a super cartoon horn to match.

I admit that it might take some people a while to appreciate them.

 

[Rockster]

USPS reportedly has some Metris vans in use here in Benton County AR. I can't recall seeing any. If I see one I'll try to remember to get a pic. But there are some around. My Metris van just went back into the shop for a 3rd time to deal with a hot stalling issue and I was told there were a number (3) USPS Metris vans in for the same thing.

Electric (battery) might or might not be the way to go. With electric there would need to be a good number of charging stations. And my info from owners of EVs in areas where summers can be real hot and winters real cold EVs do not deliver the range advertised. While USPS delivery vehicles do not cover -- for the most part -- large distances per day a shortened range would require they be recharged more often.

 

[pounce]

Agree on the battery. The infrastructure needed at postal lots for charging will be interesting. Maybe all overhead cables. Or they can switch to 24/7 service . Heck in my area I already get mail sometimes at 11pm.

 

[icerabbit]

Or - likely to go over like a lead balloon - they could do something like was started in parts of Europe, with the ongoing decrease in regular mail volume: no more daily delivery unless it is some kind of priority mail or package. Mail comes around every other day.

 

[imacd]

Pushing the Envelope: The USPS Long Life Vehicle - Great Business Schools

Share this infographic on your site! <a href=”https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/usps-long-life-vehicle/”><img src=”https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/USPS-LLVs.jpg” alt=”USPS LLV” width=”500″ border=”0″ /></a><br />Source: <a...

www.greatbusinessschools.org

Of course this is on the web so take it as you want, but it claims that 96% LLVs do less than 40 miles/day. That shouldn't take a lot of charging...

 

[pounce]

40 miles plus 8 hours of ac or heat. Those might be a handful of kw per hour.

 

[Rockster]

40 miles plus 8 hours of ac or heat. Those might be a handful of kw per hour.

Exactly. While the USPS vans might not cover vast distances the A/C or heater runs constantly most of the time. Here (Benton County AR) there are about 2 weeks in the spring and 2 weeks in the fall when one can get by comfortably without the need for A/C or heat but the rest of the time...

Also, I would think for every EV van a charging station would be necessary so when the van is returned to the yard it can be connected and receive a recharge so every morning when it goes out it does so with a full charge. Bad enough for an ICE van to run out of gasoline out on a route but for an EV van to run out of charge is a bit more of a problem.

 

[imacd]

Good point. Don't know how much of those hours the van is actually running, but OK. Also don't know how much energy the A/C uses. Icerabbit said "I tested that back when I had my first vehicle with AC, in America, and I could not discern any difference with or without." but it has to use some. The heating on the other hand is normally just free waste energy from the engine (except for the electric heater in the Metris). There you could put in a gas heater (like the old Beetles). That way you get 100% on the fuel energy into heating rather than just 40?% if you use it to make electricity first.
Apparently, in a Tesla model 3, resistive heating adds about 17% to energy consumption,
(How Much Does Climate Control Affect EV Range?)
The model Y has switched to a heat pump (which presumably does the cooling as well). They can be 3 or 4 x as efficient.

 

[pounce]

We've been talking about an ev and the battery cost for ac and heat. Both of those things are dc powered in an ev since you don't have a motor turning and no belts to drive the ac compressor. I think we are on the same page, but I wasn't sure.

A heat pump is an interesting approach.

Being that the window on a postal vehicle is open a lot of the time the load calculation is probably a lot different than a Tesla.

I am really looking forward to seeing how this will work. It will be one of the larger ev fleets.

 

[icerabbit]

I'm very curious how this will work out down the line as well. One of the things I recall from reading various announcements is that 90% of these next gens will be ICE, and a goal of 10% EV at some point. So, it doesn't look likely that we'll see any EV version any time soon.

Meanwhile the eVito exists ...

With 100 mile range and multiple regeneration settings, which I think would be ideal for things like a postal van with continuous stop and go from mailbox to mailbox and house to house. You don't need brakes ...

An eVito would be impossible for my use type with frequent 180 240 and 1600 mile trips, but I think this could work great for delivery services such as the post office.

 

[pounce]

Lots of reviews on the eVito panning the range. I was super surprised that the interior of the eVito didn't look any different from a standard van (there are a few detailed videos). I'd be thrilled to have a plugin Metris that wasn't any different on the inside, but with a 400 mile range It would be hard for be to decide between a 400 mile plugin or a AWD ICE van. Ok, how about AWD Plugin with 400 mile range and fast DC charging so I can use Tesla super chargers?

How Tesla will open up its Superchargers to other EVs

Adapters, dynamic pricing, and a big expansion.

www.theverge.com

 

[icerabbit]

For the second time ( afaik ) some packages got dropped off by a USPS Metris today. Had a very brief chat with the carrier, asking how the van is, as I have one. They seriously dislike the new vans as they’re not reliable.

• electronic issues / window control failures due to rain while delivering mail
• keyfob / lock issues
• starter issues / failures
• they only get 12 mpg stop and go. ( not surprising, really. )

I guess MB will have a bit of beefing up to do, to make this contract work out.

 

[pounce]

That's interesting. The window controls problem jibes with problems seen with other members. I assume, but maybe I am wrong, that the Starter issues have to do with ECO. Curious about the key issue. I have not seen many complain. Maybe they need to change the shift profile for the vans when used as USPS on dense routes. I imagine they gun it from each stop.

 

[Rockster]

For the second time ( afaik ) some packages got dropped off by a USPS Metris today. Had a very brief chat with the carrier, asking how the van is, as I have one. They seriously dislike the new vans as they’re not reliable.

• electronic issues / window control failures due to rain while delivering mail
• keyfob / lock issues
• starter issues / failures
• they only get 12 mpg stop and go. ( not surprising, really. )

I guess MB will have a bit of beefing up to do, to make this contract work out.

Have not had a chance to talk with any USPS employee about the Metris van. One USPS employee lives next door to me but I never see her and I don't want to knock on her door.

The biggest problem I'm aware of with the USPS vans -- at least in my area -- is the same problem I've had with my van. The engine dying a seemingly random warm/hot starts. Last I heard there were 3 USPS vans in for this awaiting parts (low pressure fuel pump) which is what was first replaced on my van. This did not eliminate the problem. Nor did a new fuel system control module. Nor did a fixing of a loose connection. The word now is M-B is working on a software fix with an ETA of (one source) late October or (another source) unknown.

Oh, my van is the cargo van and does not have that auto stop/start feature. I do not know if the USPS vans are the cargo variety or the type that comes with auto stop/start.

Gas mileage is ok but my usage does not involve constant start/stopping like a mail delivery vehicle. Around town -- mostly on roads with a 45mph limit though I do drive some on roads with lower limits but do not spend much time on freeways -- is around 22mpg. On a road trip last April fuel mileage was better but the results were clouded by the fact I either had a heck of a head wind or a heck of a tail wind. (Drove to CA from AR then back again. Not quite 4K miles.) At any rate I believe the "average" MPG was in the 25mpg range. Given the van has the aerodynamics of a painted brick I think that's pretty good. By way of comparison, my other vehicle, a 2020 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack, when used around town like my van struggles to deliver 15mpg.

 

[schlabinski]

Funny story...I had our Weekender out in the driveway with the top up this weekend while I was messing around with interior lighting. I watched as a USPS Metris drives down the street, pulls over, and the postal worker leans out the RHD window to snap a picture of our van.

So we take pictures of the USPS vans, and apparently sometimes they take pictures of ours. I was amused at least...

 

[ecpreston]

My rural town post office appears to be half Metris, I've got 3 of them, and there might be another 2-3 in town. The local Advance Auto still hasn't heard of them even though they are next to the post office. I still have to order my wiper blades online. 😤

 

[icerabbit]

Big corps take a while to adjust to new trends

 

[Bruce]

Welp. It had to happen…
While driving out of a gated community on the California coast a lady in an oncoming car pulled over, jumped out waving a piece of paper at me. I stopped, rolled down my window, and said” Hi”whereupon she exclaimed,” You’re not the postman, are you!!?”.We laughed, I explained he also drove a Metris, but no, I’m not! The next day the guard waved me thru then yelled,”Stop!”. He too thought I was the postal truck.
Maybe I’ll apply…

 

[Rockster]

Welp. It had to happen…
While driving out of a gated community on the California coast a lady in an oncoming car pulled over, jumped out waving a piece of paper at me. I stopped, rolled down my window, and said” Hi”whereupon she exclaimed,” You’re not the postman, are you!!?”.We laughed, I explained he also drove a Metris, but no, I’m not! The next day the guard waved me thru then yelled,”Stop!”. He too thought I was the postal truck.
Maybe I’ll apply…

Post office in my area -- Benton County AR -- advertising for rural route mail delivery drivers. Pays $19.01/hour plus medical benefits. Could turn into full time work. The mail delivery vehicle is supplied and it is a Metris. One needs a valid drivers license and be able to pass a background check.

Thought about it for a second but I decided in 2020 to retire and I have no desire to return to working even if it involves driving a Metris van...

 

[Claytonroy]

Post office in my area -- Benton County AR -- advertising for rural route mail delivery drivers. Pays $19.01/hour plus medical benefits. Could turn into full time work. The mail delivery vehicle is supplied and it is a Metris. One needs a valid drivers license and be able to pass a background check.

Thought about it for a second but I decided in 2020 to retire and I have no desire to return to working even if it involves driving a Metris van...

I was a part time Rural Mail Carrier on the Oregon Coast for 2 years. The route was interesting & widely varied - from million+ $ Ocean view homes to trailer parks to dairy farms etc. I wasn’t supplied a USPS vehicle - so removed the center armrest and made a mini seat to pilot my trusty ‘91 Subaru Legacy wagon ( left hand drive) from midship and deliver mail out the pass side window. Unsafe? Definitely. I wasn’t properly belted in and my noggin rested 3” from the roof and windshield. And it was hard on my vehicle (mileage paid only .40c per..). I was basically a backup carrier for one old timer / full benefits USPS employee vacation days. I did not go through the driver portion of training b/c USPS (at the time) didn’t care if you were using your vehicle (or if you were safe doing so). I considered importing a JDM rhd vehicle, but the limited work couldn’t justify the investment. Ultimately, the office got a new Postmaster, who demanded I be available 100% of the time, but my primary job (with health benefits] had to take priority, so I quit.