Canoo MPDV: A Delivery Van with Futuristic Flair and Unique Utility
Canoo is a recently formed car manufacturer that produces affordable electric commercial vehicles. The Canoo MPDV (Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle) is intended for professionals seeking to expand their business with a workhorse electric van to fulfill various commercial duties. Typically, a delivery van is not the type of vehicle that you would expect to catch your eye, as they tend to blend in quite well with ordinary traffic. The MPDV begs to differ, breaking the attention barrier with its strikingly futuristic and geometric design that brings to mind the Tesla Cybertruck. In addition to its novel look, it also boasts one-of-a-kind utility in the form of a modular body that can be customized exactly to one’s business needs.
Canoo MPDV
Utility
Utilitarian and modular, the MPDV seeks to provide for the needs of business owners of all types. It has a plethora of adjustable and optional features that make it notably serviceable. This separates it from other delivery vans, with it being applicable to a wide variety of business types, in addition to delivery. From food truck, to mobile cafe, mobile retail store, mobile locker, and even a mobile marketplace that sells fresh produce, the possibilities are endless. When configuring your MPDV, you can choose from features such as: adjustable shelving, hanging storage, built-in dolly and loading ramp, temperature-controlled cabin, built-in canopy, retractable exterior tables and chairs, locker system, sliding or hinged rear door, on-board 125V/240V charging station, and more. You can even handpick to have the steering wheel placed in an exact position to your liking, unrestricted by a physical steering column, since it is all connected through the onboard computer. The body comes in various sizes, but the chassis is the same for all versions of the MPDV, with the overhangs being adjustable in size and length at the factory. The payload capacity ranges from 1300 to 1900 lb, depending on the power of the fitted batteries.
Examples of various business use-cases
MPDV size options
Design
The MPDV’s most prominent exterior features are its large flat surfaces resembling sheet metal, sharp connecting lines and angles, rugged boxiness, and futuristic line lighting elements. The interior features a sleek and minimalist driver’s cabin that consists only of the essential elements necessary for driving. Instead of a typically large and rectangular infotainment screen, an app shows all relevant information regarding car-user preferences and road data that is accessible through a phone, which can be propped up in the side armrest like a mini infotainment display.
MPDV interior, with visible front storage shelf and openable lower glass pane
Interior front shelf view
Interior top view
Steering wheel close-up
Canoo smartphone infotainment app, interface design
Branding Space
The flat exterior panels make for an excellent space to advertise your brand. Large and bold brand designs will benefit from the real estate that the outer surfaces provide.
Exterior branding visualizations
Affordability
According to a press release, Canoo estimates that the MPDV will provide class-leading cost of ownership improvements over current best selling delivery vehicles of between “$50,000 to $80,000 on return on capital over six to seven years, depending on the use case.” This projection is based on expected low maintenance costs as a result of it being electric, overall durability, and its use of a flat chassis that allows for increased cargo volume on a smaller platform, which aids in electric range efficiency. Considering these estimates, vehicle characteristics, and the reasonable starting price of $33,000, the MPDV will likely make for an overall highly cost-effective vehicle that will be cheap and easy to maintain.
Final Thoughts
Affordable, modular, versatile and electric. The Canoo MPDV is an innovation in the world of delivery vans that makes total sense. Its lucrative for the company, since one vehicle can be sold to a wide variety of business owners, and convenient for the consumer, since one can customize and configure their MPDV for the exact needs of their business. A pioneer in technology and functionality, the MPDV sets a bold new standard of what a delivery van can be.
