Canoo Is Looking To Save Overnight Delivery With 230-Mile Electric Van

Next day deliveries have a big problem. They’re terrible for the planet. But Canoo, an EV manufacturer based in LA, is looking to solve those problems with a pair of electric vans that can travel up to 230 miles per charge.

The catchily named Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle 1 and Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle 2 (MPDV1 and 2) are designed to be as good at delivering items locally as possible. And that means a proprietary electric architecture.

According to Canoo’s math, delivery companies could save up to $80,000 over seven years, thanks to lower operating costs and the lack of a big, thirsty internal combustion engine.

Starting at around $33,000, the smaller MPDV1 starts at a few thousand dollars less than a Chevrolet Express Cargo van ($39,698), despite its fancy electric drivetrain. That same drivetrain allows operators to plug in their tools if they’re working at, say, a construction yard.

“We created our multi-purpose delivery vehicle from the inside out, with the ergonomics of the driver in mind and with attention to detail to help them be happier and more productive at work,” said Tony Aquila, Canoo’s Executive Chairman, in a statement. “We aim to lower the total cost of ownership and increase return on investment for everyone from local small business owners to large fleets.”

And Canoo estimates that the MPDVs have around 30% more cargo volume than comparable vehicles thanks to a flat battery and no engine. Steering and brake-by-wire controls are also being offered to make autonomous functionality possible once the software arrives.

The MPDV2 has 450 cubic feet of cargo volume, giving it similar capacity to a Ford Transit Van. The MPDV1, meanwhile, has 230 cubic feet of cargo volume, giving it roughly the same cargo capacity as a Chevy Express or a Nissan NV.

Its payload, meanwhile, tops out at 1,980 pounds, That’s less than the Express, whose payload tops out at 4,250 lbs, but whose fuel economy is 13 mpg in V8 trim.

And that fuel economy is one of the reasons that next-day delivery and similar programs are so hard on the environment. The faster parcels have to be delivered, the fewer can be sent out per trip, the bigger the carbon footprint of each individual parcel. And while the Canoo would still use electricity, which isn’t free, there are certainly efficiencies to be gained.

The MPDVs makes 200 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque and comes with a variety of battery packs, ranging from 80/60/40 kWh in size. These, says Canoo, can be recharged from 20% to 80% in just 28 minutes.

Best of all, though, they just kind of look rad. Like something out of Cyberpunk 2077 but, you know, less dystopian.