Going Postal

 Canada Post Corporation has been in the news recently for setting a "green" target for its delivery fleet. Half its 14,000 truck fleet will be zero-emission by 2030 and the rest by 2040. They have already committed to some Navistar "eStar" electrics with 160 km range and 6 to 8 hour re-charge. Those trucks will also have cassette batteries that can be changed out in 20 minutes. They will also be getting GM "Zevo" mini-vans to be built in Ingersoll, ON.

In the meantime of course they will have to replace older vehicles before the electrics come along. Currently, at least in Halifax, Canada Post runs Utilimaster stepvans.

As the faded red paint would suggest, some of these Utilimasters must be getting tired.

Recently a batch of new vans has appeared in the local headquarters parking lot, but have not entered service yet.

They have several interesting features:

They have a lift panel on each side (but different on the left and the right sides) - maybe that will mean easier conversion to food trucks! They are also quite low profile, and so may not have standing head room inside.

They have sliding doors on both sides, (which block the side panels when open). The doors have very odd looking windows - the top portion may slide down. They are also conventionally fueled (gasoline or diesel). There is a fuel flap on the left side ahead of the rear wheel. And the ones I see are right hand drive.

The VIN numbers show that they are F-150 regular cab 4WDs from the Kansas City assembly plant, but everything from the frame out may be from someone else.  They do have a Ford steering wheel however! and I believe they have been labelled as C250s.

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