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Comment by kennedy | Hacker News Reader

As much as I support USPS to upgrade their fleet, I dont think its a smart financial idea for USPS to fund Oshkosh for the development of their EVs. Partnering with already EV focused companies would be a better long term investment, because they would be funded by other companies looking for EV delivery vehicles. This would drive down cost per unit and long term support. Companies like Rivian with successful Amazon EDVs, or Canoo with their modular design (MPDV).

Military contracting companies like Oshkosh would charge USPS so much money for long-term support, and creating an expensive co-dependence with USPS. USPS wont be able to escape because they would need them to maintain 66,000 bespoke EVs.

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90% of a car is not EV relates. Many of the working bits of cars and trucks are already made by subcontractors, the axles, the transmissions, the seats, etc. This should be no different. Really companies like Oshkosh, Ford, etc. are integrators. Ford doesn't need to be an expert in breaks, engines, etc. They can just buy it, like dodge buys Cummins engines. Oshkosh could just build the body and frame, not in a ev drive train from a supplier of those.

> Rivian

Strategically, it might be smart to avoid for the time being a company that is so new. Will they be around in a meaningful way in 5 years when you need the fleet serviced?

The risk is high when investing into a younger company. I think younger companies, like Rivian, tend to collectively attract more talent and more modern ideas. Risky sure, but Rivian seems to gotten amazon's deep pocket investment, which is encourages more trust it would succeed.

Oshkosh has experience with making workhorse trucks (i,e their firetrucks), but their EV initiative is banking on the USPS contract, its like a new startup; As risky as partnering with anyother EV company with just a concept car.

Rivians, for example, already have the talent, manufacturing processes, and financial backing to get USPS trucks much quicker

Not to mention the point of public procuration is to bolster nascent industries. USPS must’ve identified something Oshkosh was willing to provide something special.

Does Rivian actually sell delivery vehicles to anyone other than Amazon?

I’m curious whether Rivian has an exclusivity deal with Amazon or if they’re totally maxed out capacity wise just producing the EDV.

Watching the YouTube videos about the EDV I was thinking of that dogshit diesel Oshkosh thing the USPS ordered and shaking my head.

The EDV is very Amazon tailored but if the USPS could front some cash to get another factory built and have Rivian produce a truck based on the EDV there I feel like that would be better than getting some electric motors bolted to an armored car like Oshkosh would provide.

from the videos and articles I was able to find about the amazon EDV, amazon's investment stipulation was for Amazon to get first dibs on having their EDV manufactured and delivered first. Fortunately, it was not an exclusive platform for Amazon, anyone else can order it

https://rivian.com/fleet

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