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Attractive photo of mail delivery trucks courtesy of the kind folks at Canada Post.In a climate of surging fuel prices and environmental concern, it’s cost, more than technology, which still presents a major barrier to the adoption of electric cars.

But the mailman could play a role delivering a battery-powered, zero emission future on the roads.

Canada Post represents one of the largest transportation fleets in the country.

Its armada of 7,000 mostly gas guzzlers lurched its way down more than 76 million kilometers of roadway last year, burning up 24 million litres of fuel and pumping out 59,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process.

As part of the flagship fleet of a federal government that’s looking to encourage fuel-efficient vehicles in the consumer market, the typical Canada Post delivery truck isn’t exactly a beacon of progress in the public sector.

With clearly defined, relatively short delivery routes in urban centres, today’s already available electric engine technology could be well suited to Canada Post’s needs.

But despite a long interest in going electric, Canada Post has taken only a few cautious steps to transform its fleet towards alternative fuel technology.

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