The Government is looking into procuring electric motorcycles for the Bermuda Post Office, according to a Request for Information.

The RFI, published on the Government’s procurement website on Monday, said the electric motorcycles could replace the current fleet of vehicles used to deliver mail and packages across the island.

“The phased electrification of the Government fleet provides a key opportunity for the Government to lead by example, to create necessary skill sets and financial services around electric vehicles, and to stimulate the market for EV adoption,” the notice said.

“Two key areas of support are sought in this RFI, which combined address the primary challenges to electrification that are common for island nations.

“Overcoming the first-cost hurdle is necessary and even more important in the current era of capital constrained budgets.

“Ensuring operational reliability and uptime is equally necessary, to bolster follow-on purchases by government agencies.

“It is anticipated that solutions to both challenges will create momentum and drive long-term market adoption of electrified vehicles.

“This RFI seeks responses from vendors and services providers, either independently or jointly submitted, for electric motorcycles which are the primary area of interest given the well understood first costs and market maturity.”

The RFI said the Government only intended to consider models that are already on the market and either available on the island or which could be readily made available on the island.

The notice also highlighted that it was not a Request for Proposal and the Government was collecting information to evaluate the market landscape for a fleet of electric motorcycles and financing options.

Respondents are asked to submit their information and documents by 5pm on September 7.

The Government has moved in recent years to electrify its vehicle fleet with the first electric buses coming into service earlier this year.

Since then, the Government has said the vehicles have helped to cut service cancellations, reduce operational costs and cut carbon emissions.