The EPICs, based on DaimlerChrysler's popular Dodge Caravan minivans, replace gasoline-powered vehicles in the Harbor City Post Office's mail delivery fleet.

Electric Minivan

Photo: DaimlerChrysler

The 1999 EPIC features advanced nickel-metal-hydride batteries which give the vehicle a range of 60 to 90 miles per charge, well beyond that needed for the typical 10-20-mile-per-day routes for Harbor City postal vehicles. The vehicles can be recharged at the Harbor City Post Office's central station overnight - six to eight hours is the typical time for recharging. In addition, the EPIC batteries have fast-charge capability, meaning that they can be recharged in about 30 minutes for a 25-30 mile drive.

The electric minivans also feature air conditioning as standard equipment, which is valued by Postal Service employees in the heat of Southern California. Also, mail delivery personnel note that the electric motor does not produce elevated temperatures inside the passenger compartment as is typical with gasoline-powered vehicles. Other standard equipment on the EPIC includes dual air bags, anti-lock brakes with regnerative breaking to re-charge the batteries, and an AM-FM radio, another feature favored by Postal Service workers.

DaimlerChrysler is making EPICs available in California under a voluntary agreement with the California Air Resources Board to demonstrate electric vehicle technology in the State. EPIC, which stands for Electric Powered Interurban Commuter, are being leased from 11 dealerships in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento. The Postal Service vehicles are part of a growing fleet of EPICs in California. Other California customers include the U.S. Navy and Air Force, the University of California at Los Angles (UCLA), the motion picture studios Dreamworks and Universal Studios, the electric utilities and numerous small businesses, the cities of West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Ventura, and the State of California.

The Postal Service first used electric vehicles a century ago in 1899, noted Ray Levinson, Environmental Polic y Manager for the Pacific Area of the Postal Service. "We're very excited about adding electric vehicles to our growing fleet of alternate fuel vehicles," Levinson said. The U.S. Postal Service has more than 7,500 compressed natural gas delivery vehicles, the nation's largest fleet, and recently purchased 10,000 flexible fuel vehicles that run on either gasoline or ethanol blend.

It was the second straight monthly record for GM truck sales, driven by customers' enthusiasm for full-size sport utilities and full-size pickups, all of which set truck sales records for August.

Chevrolet Silverado LS

Photo: GM

On the passenger car side, all-time August records were set by the Pontiac Grand Am, the Buick Park Avenue, the Oldsmobile Intrigue and the Saab 9-5.

With GM's award-winning Silverado and Sierra fully ramped up and with key new product launches of the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, Buick LeSabre, Pontiac Bonneville, Saturn L-S and Cadillac DeVille underway, Middlebrook said, "We see a strong GM finish to the 1999 calendar year in an industry that could sell more than 17 million vehicles for a best-ever industry volume."

Skoda Fabia

Photo: Skoda

The public will be able to see the Škoda Fabia for the first time during its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Auto Show (IAA). The market introduction will start from December this year.