Canoo Inc: The EV Company Partnering with Walmart, NASA, and USPS!
Canoo Inc. GOEV, a high-tech advanced mobility company bringing electric vehicles – namely lifestyle delivery vehicles – to commercial operators, seems to have made strides in its quest to create a state-of-the-art EV commercial fleet. The company has inked deals with some of the biggest names in the U.S., including Walmart Inc. WMT, the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of Defense and even NASA.
So what makes these large industry players and government agencies want to partner with a relatively unknown brand? After all, Canoo doesn't have the name recognition of Tesla Inc. TSLA. However, it does have scalable technology, which it says sets it apart.
EV Is Here to Stay
Over the long haul, electric fleets for commercial and government customers have a lower total cost of ownership and don't require costly fuel. But Canoo says it takes it a step further by using one-third the parts of traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs). The maintenance schedule is almost an afterthought thanks to its advanced computer architecture, which in most cases, can remotely diagnose and repair its EVs via over-the-air (OTA) software. The company also offers a warranty that covers up to eight years, something not common in the auto industry.
Canoo is going after the last-mile delivery market with its fully electric Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles (LDV). The LDVs have a last-mile delivery optimized cabin and customized cargo space. Last-mile delivery refers to the very last step of the delivery process when a parcel is moved from one location to another. Canoo reports that it utilizes true steer-by-wire technology, reducing moving parts and cabin intrusion – resulting in more usable interior space, better driver ergonomics and the addition of a panoramic window to improve road visibility. The LDV is engineered for high-frequency stop-and-go deliveries and speedy vehicle-to-door drop-off, including grocery and food/meal delivery, says Canoo.
Walmart Is In
All those attributes are part of what led Walmart to select Canoo as its EV fleet provider. Walmart inked a deal to purchase 4,500 all-electric delivery vehicles from Canoo, beginning with the LDV. The retailer has the option to purchase up to 10,000 units. The vehicles are to be used to deliver online orders in a sustainable way which will also contribute to Walmart's goal to achieve zero emissions by 2040, the companies said when originally announcing the deal. Canoo is headquartered in Justin, TX, and operates manufacturing sites in Oklahoma.
While that is Canoo's biggest order to date, the company is also making inroads with the U.S. government, inking deals with NASA, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Postal Service. All have the potential to expand into something more.
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00:00:00 Canoo Inc: The EV Company Partnering with Walmart, NASA, and USPS!