BEV OEM Canoo delivers test vehicles to USPS

LDV 190 in USPS livery (Photo: Canoo)

In 2022, Power Progress (then known as Diesel Progress) reported that the United States Postal Service (USPS) had placed an order for 50,000 next-generation delivery vehicles (NGDVs), at least 20% of which would be battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).

In total, the investment in updating the USPS delivery fleet, which totals more than 220,000 vehicles, was forecast to reach $9.6 billion.

To support production of its NGDVs, Oshkosh Defense reported that it would build a new plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for production of its low-emission ICE and BE vehicles.

The USPS also revealed plans to purchase more than 9,000 Ford E-Transit BE vehicles. At the same time, the first of a series of new charging stations was unveiled at the South Atlanta (Georgia) S&DC location – the first of 14,000 set to be installed across the USPS.

Following on from that news, it has been reported that the USPS is working with other OEMs to deliver still more electric vehicles for its fleet.

The postal service has purchased six battery-electric vehicles from Canoo, a mobility company with operations in various states across the US.

Vehicles produced by Canoo are based on a modular platform which can support a variety of top hat body designs, including delivery trucks and recreational vehicles.

The six right-hand drive units of the LDV 190 are set for delivery over this year.

Fitted with a single motor and a 79 kWh battery, the model is said to have a range in excess of 200 miles. Maximum payload is 1625 lb (736 kg).

“The multi-purpose platform with steer-by-wire technology and a unique low-profile suspension system allows for a readily-configurable right-hand drive system while maintaining desired roll and ride stability,” said Tony Aquila, executive chairman and CEO of Canoo.