A customized version of Canoo’s electric delivery van for the USPS has been spotted in the wild
Commercial EV startup Canoo looks to have delivered at least one electric delivery van to one of its newest customers, the United States Postal Service (USPS). The recently posted images show a customized Canoo LDV 190 donning USPS badging and a design slightly different from the original renderings.
Canoo remains an interesting EV startup that, for years, has straddled the line between genuine vehicle production and pure vapor. For every bump it has taken, the company has a knack for bouncing back with some form of encouraging news to keep its stock compliant.
For example, the startup announced a reverse stock split this past March as its share prices hit an all-time low. Less than two weeks later, however, its stock surged as its EV production facility in Oklahoma received approval as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ).
In recent years, Canoo has established several key customers, including Wal-Mart, Kingbee, and NASA. This past January, Canoo announced another notable name on its clientele list – the USPS. The petite deal included the purchase of six LDV 190 delivery vans from Canoo that are right-hand driving for USPS workers.
At the time, we reported the small order from Canoo, which provided further evidence that the USPS was still very focused on electrifying its fleet while still searching for the “perfect EV” to get it there. Recent images show that at least one LDV 190 has made its way to the postal service and is being tested as a potential option for future parcel deliveries.
USPS branded Canoo LDV spotted in Atlanta
The images above were posted by X user oonac15, who spotted the customized Canoo van in Atlanta. Right out of the gate, there are several noticeable differences in the real-life LDV 190 compared to the rendering posted when Canoo announced the initial purchase from the USPS.
For starters, the door handles have been revamped to a more traditional style instead of remaining flush within the door panel. We surmise this was a customization requested by USPS to ensure its drivers can enter the vehicles more easily and quickly, especially during months of inclement weather when ice could be an issue.
The van’s right side also includes a second window on the compartment door. It’s impossible to tell if this was Canoo’s plan for the USPS van all along, but it would appear custom, considering the original LDV 190 design does not include said window.
Two mirrors have been added to either side of the van’s rear, and new lighting mechanisms have been added on top of the LDV above the windshield. Canoo’s real-life version is also equipped with much nicer wheels than we are used to seeing on USPS trucks, but that design could certainly change should these vans start rolling out in mass quantities.
Neither Canoo nor USPS have shared any updates to the pilot project since announcing the initial purchase of the six LDV 190s, but the postal services appear to be testing them out. The van would admittedly look pretty damn cool delivering mail around the US, but perhaps its focus will be on packages? It seems kind of large for just mail. Hopefully, we will learn more soon.
Canoo is expected to share its Q1 2024 financial report on May 14 at 5 PM ET.
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Vammo, a battery-swapping service for electric motorcycles in Latin America, has just announced that the company has surpassed an impressive 1 million battery swaps in a little over a year.
The company has built its service around a combination of VMoto electric motorcycles and a battery-swapping service designed to keep those motorcycles rolling all day without stopping to charge.
Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, Vammo’s electric motorcycles and battery swap cabinets currently serve around 1,800 customers, with that number growing quickly. The service was launched just over a year ago and has already saved its customers a combined US $1.3 million in fuel costs. That’s on top of preventing the release of 3,050 tons of CO2 emissions.
Vammo’s subscription model saves users as much as 50% compared to gasoline-powered motorcycles, translating into annual savings of thousands of dollars. “Not only are we helping to cut carbon emissions by 85%, but we’re also putting significant savings back into the pockets of our customers,” said Jack Sarvary, Vammo’s co-founder and CEO. “Many of our users, especially delivery drivers, are saving as much as $2,000–$4,000 per year, making electric mobility both affordable and sustainable.”
That success has led to rapid growth for the company. Last year alone, Vammo saw 8x growth in both revenue and customer base.
“Our growth demonstrates the power of affordable, clean transportation,” said Billy Blaustein, Vammo’s COO. “We are proving that sustainable mobility can be both accessible and scalable.”
Vammo’s VMoto models have now become the #1 registered electric motorcycle brand in Brazil, likely making the company the top player in Latin America.
Battery swapping for electric motorcycles has gained significant interest in the last few years, especially as Gogoro has expanded its world-leading model for swappable electric scooter batteries. But unlike Gogoro, which built a swappable battery standard and then began persuading other companies to adopt it, Vammo built its service around existing electric motorcycles and their already operational battery designs.
Vammo began operations in São Paulo and has positioned its service as a solution not only for Brazil but also for broader Latin America.
Brazil is uniquely suited for electric motorcycles and battery swapping, as the country not only sells 4x the amount of motorcycles per year as the US, but has some of the cleanest electricity in the world. Over 90% of the country’s electricity is generated by clean sources, primarily hydroelectric power, with wind and solar also contributing to the mix. Compare that to the global average of just 13%.
Vammo is building on its momentum, recently announcing a partnership with app-based taxi provider 99, offering mototaxi drivers access to its electric motorcycles.
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