Canoo has delivered its first Light Tactical Vehicles to the U.S. Army for testing and demonstration purposes.
Canoo, amongst its countless commercial orders, has received an order for vehicles from the U.S. Army after winning a competitive contract. Now, the company has begun to deliver its first units to the Army for testing and demonstration use. Along with it, Canoo is showing off the flexibility and usefulness of its EV platform to other sectors of the market.
In July this year, Canoo won a contract with the U.S. Army to supply the military branch with an undisclosed number of electric vehicles, specifically Canoo’s Light Tactical Vehicles. Today they delivered some of the first units, sporting an open back cargo/seating area, offroad tires, and traditional tan paint color.
The vehicle differs from Canoo’s Lifestyle Vehicle, which is available to retail consumers and commercial customers. The open cargo area, reminiscent of the Canoo Pickup, allows maximum cargo capacity. Another critical engineering choice is a series of mounting racks meant to help transform the vehicle from flatbed to pickup, or even into a ramp. Finally, the vehicle has increased ground clearance and larger 32-inch offroad tires to help it manage any offroad environment.
Few other specifications were made public about the vehicle, but the company stated that the Canoo Light Tactical Vehicle produces 600 horsepower via an all-wheel-drive system. According to the company’s press release, more specifications will be released as it delivers more units.
Canoo CEO Tony Aquila took the occasion to point out not only the vehicle’s strength as a tactical vehicle but its flexibility to meet whatever customers throw at it, “the LTV is another milestone proving the power of our technology and how it can be used, even in tactical situations,” said Mr. Aquila, “this is a winning algorithm for our customers and company.”
The U.S. Military and numerous other parts of the government have made an apparent effort to electrify their vast fleets of vehicles (at least for the most part). And while, at least in terms of defense, electric options are not always viable, it is great to see the Department of Defence implementing change where possible.
Indeed a rags-to-riches story. Canoo continues to amaze, not only with its vehicle’s flexibility but with the business’s resiliency. Only months ago, the company was on the edge of bankruptcy; now, Canoo is flush with retail orders and is vastly expanding its production capabilities via new facilities. Here’s to hoping the company can continue to find success in the coming year as they introduce the vehicle to the public.
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Canoo, the beleaguered EV startup-turned-SPAC, has delivered its first “Light Tactical Vehicle” to the U.S. Army for a demonstration project aimed at showing how its modular electric platform can support mission-specific configurations for less money.
Canoo has landed orders for its customizable platforms with a variety of customers, ranging from NASA to Walmart. The U.S. Army, which aims to incorporate scalable vehicles into its operations, awarded the company a contract in July to supply a vehicle for analysis and demonstration.
The contract itself is just $67,500 — not exactly a material amount. If Canoo’s vehicle meets or exceeds the Army’s expectation, it could lead to a much more fruitful relationship down the road. It’s this possibility that appears to have assuaged investors. Canoo shares popped more than 4% following the announcement.
Canoo said the purpose-built vehicle for the Army is designed to be durable in extreme environments, with a focus on passenger and battery safety. The company describes the LTV as a “jack-of-all-trades” with a convertible flatbed platform that can carry standard-sized plywood, tactical equipment and construction and oversized materials.
“The LTV is another milestone proving the power of our technology and how it can be used, even in tactical situations,” Canoo Chairman and CEO Tony Aquila said in a statement. “This is a winning algorithm for our customers and company.”
The startup faltered after going public in a 2020 SPAC merger with Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp., being investigated by the SEC while burning through cash, but appears for now to have overcome the stumbling blocks that have thwarted competitors.
Earlier this month, the EV maker said it planned to acquire a vehicle manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City to bring its battery-electric Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV) and Lifestyle Vehicle (LV) SUV to market in 2023. It also said it will build an EV battery module manufacturing facility in Pryor, Oklahoma.
The 600-horsepower, all-wheel-drive LTV for the Army uses high-strength, lightweight Carbon Kevlar and incorporates air-springs, a raised suspension and 32-inch all-terrain tires to increase ground clearance suitable on extreme or rugged terrain.
The LTV can be converted from a pickup into a flatbed truck or cargo vehicle. NASA chose Canoo’s multi-purpose platform to transport astronauts to the Artemis launch site for lunar missions that will help establish the first long-term presence on the moon.
Canoo has delivered its first Light Tactical Vehicles to the U.S. Army for testing and demonstration purposes.
Canoo, amongst its countless commercial orders, has received an order for vehicles from the U.S. Army after winning a competitive contract. Now, the company has begun to deliver its first units to the Army for testing and demonstration use. Along with it, Canoo is showing off the flexibility and usefulness of its EV platform to other sectors of the market.
In July this year, Canoo won a contract with the U.S. Army to supply the military branch with an undisclosed number of electric vehicles, specifically Canoo’s Light Tactical Vehicles. Today they delivered some of the first units, sporting an open back cargo/seating area, offroad tires, and traditional tan paint color.
The vehicle differs from Canoo’s Lifestyle Vehicle, which is available to retail consumers and commercial customers. The open cargo area, reminiscent of the Canoo Pickup, allows maximum cargo capacity. Another critical engineering choice is a series of mounting racks meant to help transform the vehicle from flatbed to pickup, or even into a ramp. Finally, the vehicle has increased ground clearance and larger 32-inch offroad tires to help it manage any offroad environment.
Few other specifications were made public about the vehicle, but the company stated that the Canoo Light Tactical Vehicle produces 600 horsepower via an all-wheel-drive system. According to the company’s press release, more specifications will be released as it delivers more units.
Canoo CEO Tony Aquila took the occasion to point out not only the vehicle’s strength as a tactical vehicle but its flexibility to meet whatever customers throw at it, “the LTV is another milestone proving the power of our technology and how it can be used, even in tactical situations,” said Mr. Aquila, “this is a winning algorithm for our customers and company.”