The United States Postal Service has provided notification that VT Hackney is one of a select group of companies awarded a prototype contract under the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) Acquisition Program.
“I speak for everyone at VT Hackney in expressing our excitement in continuing the goal to develop and manufacture the next generation delivery vehicle for the most recognizable work truck in the world,” says General (Ret.) John Coburn, CEO of VT Systems, parent company to VT Hackney.
VT Hackney will partner exclusively with Workhorse Group Incorporated (NASDAQ: WKHS) on the contract to provide an advanced powertrain to meet the Postal Service’s wide range of delivery needs. The solution targets savings to the USPS in reduced fuel expenses, substantially reducing the Postal Services maintenance costs, and strengthen their sustainability initiatives by providing a near-zero emission next generation delivery vehicle.
In preparation for the development, VT Hackney visited USPS locations and interviewed current and former USPS employees to design a purpose-built vehicle with a focus on the body attributes delivering a better work environment for the operators, while meeting the USPS cargo objectives.
“Our prototype proposal is built around the USPS goal to increase efficiencies in delivery, providing a safer and more ergonomic vehicle for the operators, and reducing long term costs,” says Mike Tucker, President and CEO of VT Hackney.
VT Hackney has been in the vocational body business since 1946 with the Hackney and Kidron brands. Through its teaming agreement, Workhorse will be responsible for producing the E-Gen chassis. Workhorse is a provider of electric vehicle drivetrain solutions focused primarily on work trucks requiring a higher gross vehicle weight rating.