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They're Kyburz DXP trikes, specially designed for Australia Post: https://www.kyburz-asia.com/delivery-vehicles/dxp-au https://www.kyburz-asia.com/delivery-vehi

They're Kyburz DXP trikes, specially designed for Australia Post: https://www.kyburz-asia.com/delivery-vehicles/dxp-au https://www.kyburz-asia.com/delivery-vehicles/dxp-au 120kg load capacity (270kg with trailer), 50kph max speed, 50-100km range. Curb weight is 315kg, total vehicle weight is 510kg. For comparison, the USPS NGDV requirements were for a vehicle that could carry a loaded Kyburz DKP (minimum payload capacity of 680kg in 155 cubic ft) at twice the top speed (97kph) for longer operating ranges (110km minimum), all with an 18-29°C cabin temperature range at ambient temps of −34°-49C.

jjallen 4y ago
Yeah they use bikes in Switzerland but the temperature range (at least in The Valley part and not the mountains) is pretty narrow compared to the US. Basically -5C to 30C
excalibur 4y ago
> Reliable deliveries with all-weather protection. The roof over the DXP AU provides great visibility and protection against the wind and rain. Calling BS on this. Anything more than a light drizzle (or any kind of wind + rain combo) and that driver is getting wet.
- angry_octet 4y ago
  You know they have to get out to deliver letters and parcels? They have a solution and it's called a rain coat.
  - oblio 4y ago
    True, but full cover would probably reduce the amount of exposure from, say, 80% to 10%, during a bad day.
  - robertlagrant 4y ago
    > They have a solution and it's called a rain coat. So you're agreeing with previous commenter that the description is incorrect?
    - angry_octet 4y ago
      Additional protection would keep them 99% dry instead of 90% dry even in a storm. Right up to the point where they have to deliver a letter, where they would be 0% dry. It's more important to be able to get in and out easily.
      - robertlagrant 4y ago
        I'm wondering whether you agree with the commenter that the claim about the vehicle in this regard is likely exaggerated.
        angry_octet 4y ago
        "Protection" does not mean absolutely proof against. But even more, "calling BS" implies that the statement is not just wrong, but deceptive, and I completely disagree with that premise. (Which is additionally a claim it would be idiotic for them to make for an occupant likely wearing a rain coat.)
  - vallassy 4y ago
    I feel like being pedantic for a moment. Our suburban posties don't get off the bike to deliver the letters, they ride up alongside the letterbox and deliver the letters right from the vehicle, as can be seen in the link in the GGP comment. They also deliver small parcels that will fit in a standard letterbox. You are quite right though, as soon as the rain starts, they're in full wet gear. Bright yellow, you can't miss them. Suburban parcel delivery is specifically taken care of by Startrack, an Auspost subsidiary, usually in a trusty Toyota Hiace van.
    - viraptor 4y ago
      Photo for reference. If it rains they're ready. https://kagi.com/proxy/Australia-Post-trials-three-wheeled.jpg?c=n8b_AtrbDCZbjVs54VCfXinRNSZco0JuFn4IKWSfZhh-MNbfhu_0AlmiogxsHzaM48odakDYRA9njMbWZkpZ4YQPtc-BiQYYW9J9gSF52NwUcdwOo7LFHTknKEHwJrXUGFR7P3ngGyL9GYx9LcW2DHCrl7NYXyR5y9aP3GTKWTVu05W10-DUgBYmFmXvVOVp https://kagi.com/proxy/Australia-Post-trials-three-wheeled.j...
- _kulang 4y ago
  Sure. They used to use motorcycles though. So the comparison is a little more favourable against a postie bike
14 4y ago
Wow that is faster than I expected since they are 3 wheeled. Honda stopped producing 3 wheeled trikes because they were far too easy to tip over during cornering and many people died. These things look like they could do the same if not careful. I hope they give employees lots of training.
- vanderZwan 4y ago
  Yeah the weight distribution looks like it's pretty top-heavy when fully loaded, doesn't it? And it's not like it's a Carver that compensates for all of that whenever you take a turn (sadly), so I'd be very cautious while driving it. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK4wzBYmTIo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK4wzBYmTIo [1] https://www.carver.earth/en/ https://www.carver.earth/en/
  - wartijn_ 4y ago
    It looks like the battery is in the bottom of the vehicle. Since batteries are really heavy I assume the weight distribution won't be too bad.
- sbm_au 4y ago
  I can say they do give Australia Post riders lots of training. I have a relative who did rider and driver training for learners. As well as the general public, they also ran Australia Post training courses which were large, regular, and took a lot of time.
WalterBright 4y ago
Why does that need to be specially designed? It looks general purpose to me!
- xgb84j 4y ago
  I heard of state tenders where they basically have some minimum requirements that have to be met and otherwise choose the cheapest option. For a large amount of vehicles it is probably cheapest to design one that meets all the minimum requirements exactly.
  - WalterBright 4y ago
    When Seattle started with light rail, they ordered custom cars that were "specially designed for the Pacific Northwest". Nobody was ever able to explain what was special about the PNW and light rail cars. But hey, it cost a lot of money!
    - starkparker 4y ago
      There were two major differences from the stock Kinkisharyo cars, one technical, one political: - Most North American light rail systems use 750V electrification, Sound Transit used 1500V to reduce the number of substations.[1] - The cars arbitrarily had to be assembled at Boeing in Everett "because of a 'Buy American' requirement written into the Kinkisharyo International contract ... Federal grant money is being used to help pay for the light-rail fleet, which means a percentage of the rail cars must be built in the U.S. and that final assembly must take place in Sound Transit's service district".[2] Seattle's cars also used 70% low-floor access for ADA accessibility and included more bike racks, which isn't unique now but were both relatively novel at the time.[3] 1: https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022530/http://www.globaltelematics.com/pitf/SoundTransitCentralLinkOpsPlan.7.29.08.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022530/http://www.global... 2: https://web.archive.org/web/20070524112643/http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/05/22/100loc_b1rail001.cfm https://web.archive.org/web/20070524112643/http://www.herald... 3: http://www.kinkisharyo.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ST.pdf http://www.kinkisharyo.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/S...
vanderZwan 4y ago
I don't really understand why they went with a one-size-has-to-fit-all solution here when there's such a high variety of climates and terrains in the US. Or is the idea to start with these where appropriate and develop other vehicles for more extreme climates?
- mschuster91 4y ago
  > I don't really understand why they went with a one-size-has-to-fit-all solution here when there's such a high variety of climates and terrains in the US. Makes logistics cheaper if you only have one model to take care of, and since these are bespoke vehicles you'll also save on costs because the factory only has to build one variation.
  - mcv 4y ago
    Dutch postal service PostNL has a wide variety of vehicles ranging from trucks to bicycles. And as far as I know, bicycles have always been a big part of the last few miles of mail delivery here. https://www.postnl.nl/over-postnl/pers-nieuws/beeldmateriaal/voertuigen/ https://www.postnl.nl/over-postnl/pers-nieuws/beeldmateriaal...
    - jonasdegendt 4y ago
      They have all these vehicles but what's actually being used in practice in the Netherlands for last mile deliveries? I'm in the city center of a large Belgian city and 99% of my deliveries from both BPost and PostNL are still the regular white panel vans, even though both have local sorting centers.
      - vanderZwan 4y ago
        Well, I can't find any numbers on that right now (although I'm sure they're on-line somewhere) but where my family lives in the Netherlands it's mostly bikes. One of my sister delivers mail on one too. Perhaps the policy is different in Belgium?
      - 4y ago

jjallen 4y ago

Yeah they use bikes in Switzerland but the temperature range (at least in The Valley part and not the mountains) is pretty narrow compared to the US. Basically -5C to 30C

excalibur 4y ago

> Reliable deliveries with all-weather protection. The roof over the DXP AU provides great visibility and protection against the wind and rain. Calling BS on this. Anything more than a light drizzle (or any kind of wind + rain combo) and that driver is getting wet.

angry_octet 4y ago
You know they have to get out to deliver letters and parcels? They have a solution and it's called a rain coat.
- oblio 4y ago
  True, but full cover would probably reduce the amount of exposure from, say, 80% to 10%, during a bad day.
- robertlagrant 4y ago
  > They have a solution and it's called a rain coat. So you're agreeing with previous commenter that the description is incorrect?
  - angry_octet 4y ago
    Additional protection would keep them 99% dry instead of 90% dry even in a storm. Right up to the point where they have to deliver a letter, where they would be 0% dry. It's more important to be able to get in and out easily.
    - robertlagrant 4y ago
      I'm wondering whether you agree with the commenter that the claim about the vehicle in this regard is likely exaggerated.
      - angry_octet 4y ago
        "Protection" does not mean absolutely proof against. But even more, "calling BS" implies that the statement is not just wrong, but deceptive, and I completely disagree with that premise. (Which is additionally a claim it would be idiotic for them to make for an occupant likely wearing a rain coat.)
- vallassy 4y ago
  I feel like being pedantic for a moment. Our suburban posties don't get off the bike to deliver the letters, they ride up alongside the letterbox and deliver the letters right from the vehicle, as can be seen in the link in the GGP comment. They also deliver small parcels that will fit in a standard letterbox. You are quite right though, as soon as the rain starts, they're in full wet gear. Bright yellow, you can't miss them. Suburban parcel delivery is specifically taken care of by Startrack, an Auspost subsidiary, usually in a trusty Toyota Hiace van.
  - viraptor 4y ago
    Photo for reference. If it rains they're ready. https://kagi.com/proxy/Australia-Post-trials-three-wheeled.jpg?c=n8b_AtrbDCZbjVs54VCfXinRNSZco0JuFn4IKWSfZhh-MNbfhu_0AlmiogxsHzaM48odakDYRA9njMbWZkpZ4YQPtc-BiQYYW9J9gSF52NwUcdwOo7LFHTknKEHwJrXUGFR7P3ngGyL9GYx9LcW2DHCrl7NYXyR5y9aP3GTKWTVu05W10-DUgBYmFmXvVOVp https://kagi.com/proxy/Australia-Post-trials-three-wheeled.j...
_kulang 4y ago
Sure. They used to use motorcycles though. So the comparison is a little more favourable against a postie bike

14 4y ago

Wow that is faster than I expected since they are 3 wheeled. Honda stopped producing 3 wheeled trikes because they were far too easy to tip over during cornering and many people died. These things look like they could do the same if not careful. I hope they give employees lots of training.

vanderZwan 4y ago
Yeah the weight distribution looks like it's pretty top-heavy when fully loaded, doesn't it? And it's not like it's a Carver that compensates for all of that whenever you take a turn (sadly), so I'd be very cautious while driving it. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK4wzBYmTIo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK4wzBYmTIo [1] https://www.carver.earth/en/ https://www.carver.earth/en/
- wartijn_ 4y ago
  It looks like the battery is in the bottom of the vehicle. Since batteries are really heavy I assume the weight distribution won't be too bad.
sbm_au 4y ago
I can say they do give Australia Post riders lots of training. I have a relative who did rider and driver training for learners. As well as the general public, they also ran Australia Post training courses which were large, regular, and took a lot of time.

WalterBright 4y ago

Why does that need to be specially designed? It looks general purpose to me!

xgb84j 4y ago
I heard of state tenders where they basically have some minimum requirements that have to be met and otherwise choose the cheapest option. For a large amount of vehicles it is probably cheapest to design one that meets all the minimum requirements exactly.
- WalterBright 4y ago
  When Seattle started with light rail, they ordered custom cars that were "specially designed for the Pacific Northwest". Nobody was ever able to explain what was special about the PNW and light rail cars. But hey, it cost a lot of money!
  - starkparker 4y ago
    There were two major differences from the stock Kinkisharyo cars, one technical, one political: - Most North American light rail systems use 750V electrification, Sound Transit used 1500V to reduce the number of substations.[1] - The cars arbitrarily had to be assembled at Boeing in Everett "because of a 'Buy American' requirement written into the Kinkisharyo International contract ... Federal grant money is being used to help pay for the light-rail fleet, which means a percentage of the rail cars must be built in the U.S. and that final assembly must take place in Sound Transit's service district".[2] Seattle's cars also used 70% low-floor access for ADA accessibility and included more bike racks, which isn't unique now but were both relatively novel at the time.[3] 1: https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022530/http://www.globaltelematics.com/pitf/SoundTransitCentralLinkOpsPlan.7.29.08.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022530/http://www.global... 2: https://web.archive.org/web/20070524112643/http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/07/05/22/100loc_b1rail001.cfm https://web.archive.org/web/20070524112643/http://www.herald... 3: http://www.kinkisharyo.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ST.pdf http://www.kinkisharyo.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/S...

vanderZwan 4y ago

I don't really understand why they went with a one-size-has-to-fit-all solution here when there's such a high variety of climates and terrains in the US. Or is the idea to start with these where appropriate and develop other vehicles for more extreme climates?

mschuster91 4y ago
> I don't really understand why they went with a one-size-has-to-fit-all solution here when there's such a high variety of climates and terrains in the US. Makes logistics cheaper if you only have one model to take care of, and since these are bespoke vehicles you'll also save on costs because the factory only has to build one variation.
- mcv 4y ago
  Dutch postal service PostNL has a wide variety of vehicles ranging from trucks to bicycles. And as far as I know, bicycles have always been a big part of the last few miles of mail delivery here. https://www.postnl.nl/over-postnl/pers-nieuws/beeldmateriaal/voertuigen/ https://www.postnl.nl/over-postnl/pers-nieuws/beeldmateriaal...
  - jonasdegendt 4y ago
    They have all these vehicles but what's actually being used in practice in the Netherlands for last mile deliveries? I'm in the city center of a large Belgian city and 99% of my deliveries from both BPost and PostNL are still the regular white panel vans, even though both have local sorting centers.
    - vanderZwan 4y ago
      Well, I can't find any numbers on that right now (although I'm sure they're on-line somewhere) but where my family lives in the Netherlands it's mostly bikes. One of my sister delivers mail on one too. Perhaps the policy is different in Belgium?
    - 4y ago