Postal Service Explores Options for 'Green' Delivery Fleet

IRVINE, Calif., July 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service
plans to identify new, more environmentally friendly vehicle technologies that
are less dependent on petroleum-based fuel sources to replace the 195,000
neighborhood delivery vehicles of its total 220,000 vehicles, the world's
largest civilian fleet. Today's announcement came during a ceremony in which
General Motors presented a Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle to the
Postal Service for testing in a mail-delivery environment.

"We are looking for a vehicle that operates from a fuel source that reduces --
or eliminates -- our dependence on petroleum products, that is good for the
environment, good for our customers and good for the Postal Service," said
Walter O'Tormey, vice president, Engineering, as he accepted the keys to the
Equinox Fuel Cell that will be tested in Irvine, CA.

Moving forward with non-petroleum fueled vehicles is more important to the
Postal Service than ever, O'Tormey said, since a one-cent increase in a gallon
of fuel adds $8 million annually to Postal Service expenses. Fuel costs last
year were $1.7 billion and are expected to increase this year by $600 million.

"The Postal Service has been an invaluable partner, and they put our fuel cell
vehicles through some tough, daily workouts," said Mary Beth Stanek, director
of energy and environmental policy & commercialization at General Motors. "We
are gaining valuable insight on how these vehicles perform in demanding,
real-world situations. By participating in Project Driveway, the Postal
Service also is demonstrating the need to develop a hydrogen infrastructure to
support fueling these vehicles."

A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is twice as efficient as an internal combustion
engine and is unique in that the fuel cell emits only water vapor which
doesn't harm the environment. Hydrogen's greatest advantage as a fuel is that
it can be made in many ways using both traditional and renewable energy
sources, such as wind, solar and biomass energy.

"We are very encouraged by GM's fuel cell technology," O'Tormey added. "We
also want to explore other options, such as hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid
and other 'green' vehicles that will help us continue to provide our customers
with reliable service while protecting the environment."

The Postal Service leads the federal government in the number of alternate
fuel vehicles it uses. More than 43,000 can operate on hybrid-electric,
electric, compressed natural gas, liquid propane gas, ethanol (E-85),
biodiesel and hydrogen fuel cell.

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other
media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at
www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/welcome.htm.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery
service that reaches every address in the nation, 146 million homes and
businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the
sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating
expenses. The Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers
nearly half the world's mail.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

Mark Saunders, +1-202-268-6524, cell: +1-202-320-0782,
mark.r.saunders@usps.gov, Los Angeles: Rich Maher, +1-714-662-6350m cell:
+1-714-307-0202, richard.j.maher@usps.gov, both of U.S. Postal Service; or
Pete Barkey of General Motors, +1-248-857-1160, cell: +1-586-850-3569,
pete.barkey@gm.com