Electric van startup Canoo has one of the more interesting-looking electric vehicles out there, though the company has been slow to roll the project out to customers. So far we’ve seen one in NASA use and we learned earlier this year that Canoo would supply six vans to the United States Postal Service in a trial. We’ve got our first look at the van and it looks a little different than expected.
These photos come courtesy of Mailgoose, who posted these photos in the USPS subreddit, stating that the “Canoo just touched down in ATL.”
Unlike the vehicle used by NASA, this is the LDV90 platform, which replaces the passenger cabin with a long cargo area, similar in concept to Brightdrop’s Zevo 600 EV van. Here’s what Canoo said at the time about their USPS deal:
Canoo is honored to participate as one of the potential suppliers in the groundbreaking electrification and modernization of the U.S. Postal Service’s delivery fleet as announced by the USPS on January 22, 2024. This effort is part of the USPS’s $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve the organization’s processing, transportation, and delivery networks.
The vehicles for USPS will leverage Canoo’s patented technologies to deliver enhanced functionality, safety, and ergonomics.
As we know, the USPS takes these things quite seriously and should give the van a serious evaluation.
Given that these vans stay in generally geographically compact areas, an EV makes a lot more sense than, say, a Metris. BTW, here’s what the original was supposed to look like:
And here’s what it actually looks like:
From the left side, it looks quite familiar, sporting the same basic paint scheme (albeit stopping before the headlight) and greenhouse. The main difference is the steel wheels aren’t there and, instead, the van uses the nicer wheels shown on the render of the regular van (above).
But on the right-side, it’s a lot more obvious. There’s an extra window! It’s one of those shielded windows like you sometimes see on delivery vehicles and sports a little grate. This is an interesting addition and I wonder if it was added after the fact by a designer. It’s definitely a nice way to let in a lot of natural light while still maintaining the general feel of a delivery vehicle.
It was reported by TechCrunch earlier this year that the company spent twice its annual revenue on the CEO’s private jet last year, but it looks like the company’s got at least six deliveries this year so that’s something.
What do you think of it?
It has an extra window because it has an extra door.
I so love these things.
I’d daily it.
Our local (suburban KC) mail delivery comes in a Dodge/Chrysler LHD minivan……it does have a sliding side door tho.
When it gets into the hands of local carriers, that’s the key. My rural carrier has a Metris, which they put some (removable) mods into to hold the mail and packages better. Our local ones also now have amber LED wig-wags mounted on the top rear of the vehicle to make them easier to see; the stock 4-way flashers were not cutting it.
I think it’s a pretty typical boondoggle and there is no way a significant number of these things is actually going to be delivered, much less put into fleet use. It’ll keep Canoo from disappearing off the face of the earth for roughly another six months, tops.
I’m here for it! After the so-called upgrade of the last ICE delivery vehicle, this gives me hope.
The stripes were moved about 6″ lower and the side window is important in angled intersections.
In order for it to be beneficial as a blind spot window, they need to flip the side the window is on for postal vehicles, at least – it’s useless in this application since postal vehicles are RHD, so this is directly behind the driver’s right shoulder.
I’m pretty sure that this one is LHD, like many other USPS vehicles/vans. See the Mercedes Metris, RAM van, Dodge Caravan , , ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYrv5gTDmjg
I did a quick search, and apparently all the Metris are RHD, and the Promasters are LHD, to allow for a fleet mix of both. Without RHD, they would be ignoring a huge portion of routes they cover.
As for the Canoo, it looks like they’re RHD based on the seatbelt location (you can see it through the window, and postal vehicles don’t typically have a passenger seat), but they could easily do both to meet the fleet mix like they did with the Dodge/Fiat and the Mercedes.
I was so excited when I saw the Canoo concept. Then I saw that, despite external appearances to the contrary, it’s not cab over, just has a really crazy huge dash/trunk thing. May still be OK, depends on how that works out in production. Then they announced that they’re going “subscription only”. WT actual F???? Dead to me. Sell me a car or don’t.
Yeah, the fact that they only cosplay as a cabover was a letdown for me.
As a current City Carrier, these would suck to actually use for mail delivery. Much like the Mercedes Metris we already have in the fleet, these Canoos seem to have no sliding driver’s door, making accessing CBU’s (large community mailbox) on roadways a real PITA. This will never be a postal vehicle on any grand scale because any “mail delivery vehicle” with a regular driver’s door is DOA.
If it were easy to get up and get to the back door, and that door slides it could be a possibility? Also, CBUs are common in some areas and nonexistent in others. Are you in a suburban city? I’ve only seen these in suburban areas, most central cities don’t have any townhouse/multi-apartment complexes that have these.
They’re getting more and more common. I deliver in a small city of 40,000 and there are some of them on nearly every route, some routes are almost all CBUs. They are often facing the roadway so they can be opened/accessed from inside the vehicle, much like a standard road mailbox would be. These cluster boxes are also on the small island of 11,000 people I used to deliver to. USPS is trying to get all new builds to group mail in one central location. A neighborhood of, say, 150 new houses would all get their mail in one location, were the CBUs are. It also helps with aesthetics and additional parking (less single mailbox areas).
This is an important step for Canoo, but very likely not a long term contract solution for Canoo/USPS. Canoo is showing they can adapt for different platforms, which is exactly what they need to do, as commercial vehicles are their only path to success. This is not the ideal shape for a mail delivery vehicle, but could likely be successful in last mile delivery of larger items. The 6 vehicles and 3 government contracts they have delivered on will not get picked as long term solutions, however I do feel they are showing an ability to work with the govt, adapt their designs to the needs presented, and maybe even hit a proper price point. If they can continue to make what customers ask for I could see these replacing the Chevy Express as the go to govt maintenance vehicles.
I can see some of my handiwork in the images.
The Rivian van seems like the obvious choice here.
It’s very frunky.
It’s like a 21st century Silhouette.
The Cadillac of minivans
DOA… USPS wants a van with stand up height and Canoo’s van won’t stretch that far. The Canon exclusive lights, windshield, etc.. won’t cut it with USPS either- They want standardized truck lights and flat glass. This is just a joint USPS/Canoo PR splash…
The NGDV has curved glass and unique lights I believe.
What a great way to handle the portage.
That thing looks really neat and weird. I looked at it for a while and got curious about what was going on with the driving position being so far back. I had to know if there was like an interior frunk up there or something. Nope, just a really weird dashboard. Seems like a lot of wasted space up there. Kind of disappointing but still, pretty cool and definitely unique.
Maybe it’s a case of “designer meets crash regulations”? The designer wanted a Kei car style front end where your feet are 5 cm from the front of the car, but the engineer told him it would fail all crash requirements.
I also cannot believe this design would meet the USPS requirement for ultra rugged bumpers.
Like that NASA van, would definitely drive one.
I wonder how long it will be before DT will get one and drive to Moab.
I believe David flys into Moab these days on the luxurious Autopian autogyro.
“Can’t you pedal ever a bit faster, Hardijeeves? The breeze is flagging and my mint julep and I are starting to sweat!”
I’m sure the window aids in visibility when making left turns.
Yeah, I always look over my right shoulder when making left turns….
Pretty sure they’re getting at the situation you find yourself in at intersections in any work van – when both sides are obstructed, it makes it very hard to judge traffic coming from that side of the vehicle at oblique intersections. However, that’s irrelevant here, since postal delivery vehicles aren’t LHD, and the left side is still obstructed.
That would make sense on the blind spot check if postal vehicles were left hand drive in the US, but they’re not.
We never saw a rendering of the right side though, so I don’t think it’s fair to say it doesn’t match that side.
It looks like a giant mailbox. So, great! Still waiting for my pickup.
Damn these are cool.
I want one.
I love the incredibly high tech giant convex mirror on the back instead of a camera.
Giant convex mirrors are incredibly high tech. Try making one, hugely complicated knowledge of optics, material science, and more. Also cheap to replace because someone did the clever stuff so many years ago it is boring.