Electric vehicle (EV) startup Canoo has revealed its follow up to its original canoo people mover, an all-electric multi-purpose delivery vehicle (MPDV) to be priced starting at about $33,000 for the 40-kW·h base variant. The MPDV is purposefully designed to maximize return on investment for its customers. The BlackRock-backed company is on track to close its previously announced merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. IV on Monday, December 21.
With the MPDV, the company hopes to capitalize on the expected dramatic increase in the adoption of EVs among commercial delivery companies. The shift is projected to be led by the light segment, the initial target for Canoo. It cites BloombergNEF predictions for EV light commercial vehicles in the U.S., Europe, and China that expect growth at a 33% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from 2019 to 2028.
Much of this growth is the result of a change in consumer expectations for faster home delivery of goods. As a result, e-commerce providers are increasingly pushing to reduce package delivery times from two to same day.
According to Canoo commissioned research, it is projected that same-day parcel delivery volumes in the U.S. will grow to 10 billion parcels by 2030, reflecting an approximate 23% annual growth rate since 2019. This change is expected to result in an increase in demand for smaller delivery vehicles that can efficiently execute smaller volume and more frequent delivery routes.
Like the canoo people mover, the MPDV is based on Canoo’s proprietary electric platform. This has enabled the accelerated design and launch timelines of the company’s second vehicle model, in two initial MPDV1 and MPDV2 sizes. Other variations will follow, and Canoo plans to announce a service network at a later date.
With the MPDV, Canoo plans to offer customers the best-in-class total cost of ownership through range and space efficiency, class-leading cargo volume, more functional features, durability, and low maintenance costs. Leveraging the company’s proprietary platform is expected to reduce material and service costs, passing on considerable savings to customers. Those best-in-class determinations are based on company comparisons of the MPDV1 and MPDV2 against a representative set of leading comparably sized competitor vehicles including the Nissan E-NV200; Ford Transit Custom L2H2 and L2H2 290; and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter L1H1 RWD, e-Vito L3, and e-Sprinter L2H2. Other competitors from new OEMs are expected from the likes of Arrival, Bollinger, and Rivian.
The total-cost-of-ownership assumptions include a six-year vehicle life span, electricity costs of $0.17/kW less 10% charging inefficiency, average costs of gasoline, and includes incentives/discounts for electric vehicles. Canoo estimates that its MPDV customers can achieve between $50,000 and $80,000 improvement on return on capital over six to seven years, depending on the use case, as compared to other top-selling delivery vehicles.
“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, Executive Chairman, Canoo. “The vehicle is affordable and offers greater cargo capacity than the current electric delivery offerings in its class. We aim to lower the total cost of ownership and increase return on investment for everyone from local small business owners to large fleets.”
As its name implies, the functional design of the MPDV is meant for multi-purpose applications and multiple use cases. It hopes to service a range of customers, but specifically for the needs of small businesses and large last-mile delivery companies in mind. Paired with a targeted best-in-class total cost of ownership (TCO), it also is intended to be a good option for independent contractors, utilities, and service technicians. Canoo also says it will work with larger customers—such as last-mile and package delivery fleets, retailers, major corporations, and logistics companies—to co-develop a custom vehicle to meet specific requirements.
Canoo says its proprietary electric vehicle platform is the flattest in the industry and enables that class-leading interior cargo volume on a small vehicle footprint. Interior volume is maximized by the company’s “driver-forward” architecture.
To maximize MPDV user functionality, Canoo plans to offer a bi-directional onboard charger instead of a separate DC-AC converter, which will transform the vehicle into a power source for equipment and tools. A 125-V or 240-V AC output power plug can be incorporated so tools such as saws, drills, and air compressors can be conveniently powered up at remote destinations.
The MPDV was designed to be sensitive to the ergonomics and productivity of the people using it, with customizations including high roof height, storage lockers, roll-up style door, ramp slide outs, and workstations. Both variants are designed to offer a low step-in height of 17 in (430 mm), allowing easy access. Urban maneuverability enabled by Canoo’s steer-by-wire technology which eliminates hand-over-hand driving and increases range of motion and route options.
Space efficiency is said to allow fleets to accommodate greater cargo space, with nearly 30% more parcel volume than other leading delivery vehicles in comparable segments. Range efficiency means more stops can be made on a single charge, helping to lower operating costs. Energy efficiency provides considerable savings in terms of operating expenses because the vehicle can go further per kilowatt than the competition.
The company is shooting for class-leading connectivity with data reporting capabilities, over-the-air software updates, and Level 2.5 automated driving. Support for cutting-edge software-as-a-service (SaaS) functionality will help fleets to manage their assets, route plan, run diagnostics, and support drivers with safety, awareness, and ergonomic information.
The platform features a steel frame, transverse composite leaf springs, double wishbone suspension, variable-ratio steer-by-wire, and brake-by-wire. Canoo’s industry-leading steer-by-wire system will enable a smooth transition into self-driving capabilities once full autonomy becomes commercially available. Steer-by-wire also helps accelerate the internationalization plans for the vehicle, allowing for rapid deployment of a right-hand drive offering.
Both vehicle variants are expected to offer three battery pack sizes—80, 60, and 40 kW·h, with the 80-kW·h size featuring a DC fast charging time of 28 min from 20% to 80% levels. The liquid-cooled packs use 21/700 cylindrical cells. The front-wheel-drive unit uses one permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor rated at 200 hp (149 kW) and 236 lb·ft (320 N·m). Ground clearance is 7.3 in (185 mm).
The smaller MPDV1 offers better range efficiency for urban mobility and is designed to fit within many height-restricted areas like parking garages. It is 14.4 ft (4.39 m) long, 6.4 ft (1.95 m) wide, and 6.2 ft (1.89 m) tall on a wheelbase of 9.4 ft (2.87 m). Cargo volumes are 200 ft³ (5660 L) behind the bulkhead, 30 ft³ (850 L) in the cabin, for a total of 230 ft³ (6510 L). Payloads are 1540/1760/1980 lb (698/798/898 kg) for the 80/60/40-kW·h battery models, respectively. Curb masses are 4190/3970/3750 lb (1900/1800/1700 kg), with a total vehicle rating of 5730 lb (2600 kg).
The ranges for the 80/60/40 kW·h ratings are 300/250/170 mi (482/402/273 km) by WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) measurements, and 230/190/130 mi (370/305/209 km) according to the EPA.
The larger MPDV2’s roof and step-in height enable easy walk-in/-out of the vehicle. With nearly 6.5 ft (2.0 m) of interior height throughout, it is tall enough to accommodate a user standing position. It is 17.1 ft (5.21 m) long, 7.2 ft (2.19 m) wide, and 8.4 ft (2.56 m) tall on the same 9.4-ft wheelbase. Cargo volume is higher, at 450 ft³ (12,740 L) behind the bulkhead, 50 ft³ (1415 L) in the cabin, for a total of 500 ft³ (14,155 L). However, payloads are lower at 1320/1540/1760 lb (598/698/798 kg) for the 80/60/40-kW·h versions. The curb mass is 4410/4190/3970 lb (2000/1900/1800), and total GVM rating is the same at 5730 lb.
The ranges for the 80/60/40-kW·h ratings are 250/190/110 mi (402/305/177 km) by WLTP measurements, and 190/140/90 mi (305/225/144 km) according to the EPA.
Limited availability of the MPDV1 and MPDV2 will begin in 2022, with scaled production and launch planned for 2023. Customers can pre-order for a refundable deposit of $100 per MPDV at www.canoo.com/mpdv. Following its U.S. commercial debut, plans call for MPDV launches in other markets such as Canada, Mexico, and Europe. A third, larger Class 3 variant will follow.
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