The U.S. Postal Service's plan to replace its aging gas-powered mail trucks with electric vehicles (EVs) faces potential setbacks as congressional efforts seek to withdraw billions of dollars in federal EV funding, despite previous bipartisan support and environmental benefits.

Critics, including some GOP lawmakers like Senator Joni Ernst and Congressman Michael Cloud, cite concerns over delays, costs, and performance issues, advocating for continued use of traditional gas-powered vehicles and ethanol blends.

So far, the Postal Service has ordered 51,500 new vehicles, with 35,000 expected to be electric, and has already delivered 300 electric and 1,000 gas-powered trucks.

The new trucks feature design improvements such as air conditioning and safety technologies, and are manufactured in-house at a converted North Carolina factory.

The EV initiative has received bipartisan backing from President Biden and environmental advocates, emphasizing its role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with studies projecting up to 20 million tons of emissions could be cut over 20 years.

This debate over EV adoption reflects broader tensions over energy policy, with Republicans emphasizing cost savings and traditional energy sources, while Democrats push for accelerated clean energy solutions.

The electric fleet includes innovative trucks designed for efficiency and safety, primarily used on routes under 30 miles, with the first models already in service.

The Biden administration and Democratic allies see the EV rollout as essential for modernizing the fleet and reducing emissions from aging, fuel-inefficient vehicles prone to breakdowns and fires.

Supporters argue halting the program would waste investments and miss opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, with the Biden administration backing the transition to an all-electric federal fleet.

The ongoing debate centers on the economic and environmental merits of electric versus gas-powered vehicles, with supporters highlighting environmental benefits and modernization, and opponents citing costs and logistical concerns.

While some lawmakers support the continued use of already purchased EVs, others believe federal investments should be more strategic, balancing costs and environmental benefits.

Supporters, including postal unions and environmental experts, argue canceling the EV program would waste millions already invested and overlook the environmental benefits, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 million tons over 20 years, as projected by a 2022 University of Michigan study.