Electric vehicle (EV) startup Canoo appears to have delivered at least one of its electric delivery vans to the United States Postal Service (USPS), according to recently posted images. The images show a customized Canoo LDV 190 bearing USPS badging and a design slightly different from the original renderings.
Canoo has been an intriguing player in the EV market, balancing between actual vehicle production and conceptual ideas. Despite facing challenges, the company has consistently managed to rebound with positive news, keeping its stock buoyant.
For instance, in March, Canoo executed a reverse stock split when its share prices hit an all-time low. Shortly after, its stock surged as its EV production facility in Oklahoma received approval as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ).
Canoo has secured several key customers in recent years, including Wal-Mart, Kingbee, and NASA. In January, the company announced a deal with the USPS for the purchase of six LDV 190 delivery vans, which are designed with right-hand driving for USPS workers.
The USPS @Canoo is real!!!! Spotted in Atlanta 👀 pic.twitter.com/4K7JPki34i
— OONAC (@oonac15) May 10, 2024
Recent images suggest that at least one LDV 190 has been delivered to the USPS and is undergoing testing for potential use in future parcel deliveries.
The images, posted by user oonac15, show the customized Canoo van in Atlanta. Several differences are noticeable between the real-life LDV 190 and the initial rendering posted by Canoo when it announced the USPS purchase.
For instance, the door handles have been redesigned to a more traditional style instead of being flush within the door panel. This change may have been made at USPS’s request to ensure drivers can enter the vehicles quickly, especially during inclement weather.
Additionally, a second window has been added to the compartment door on the van’s right side. While it is unclear if this was part of Canoo’s original plan for the USPS van, it appears to be a custom addition.
Two mirrors have been installed on either side of the van’s rear, and new lighting fixtures have been added above the windshield. The real-life version of the LDV 190 also features more upscale wheels than those typically seen on USPS trucks, although this design could change for mass production.
Neither Canoo nor USPS has provided updates on the pilot project since announcing the initial purchase of the six LDV 190s. However, it appears that USPS is actively testing the vehicles. The LDV 190 could offer a unique and stylish option for mail delivery in the US, though its focus may be on package delivery given its size. Further updates on the project are eagerly awaited.
