Dive Brief:
- Canoo delivered its new “Light Tactical Vehicle” to the U.S. Army for a demonstration of how its modular electric vehicle platform can be adapted to specific needs, the company announced this month.
- The EV maker described the modified truck as a jack of all trades, with a convertible flatbed platform for carrying an array of standard to oversized materials, tactical equipment and attachments.
- “The LTV is another milestone proving the power of our technology and how it can be used, even in tactical situations,” Chairman and CEO Tony Aquila said in a statement. The company plans to release full specifications closer to production.
Dive Insight:
Delivering the LTV fulfills a $67,500 contract the Army awarded Canoo in July to support its shift to EVs while also incorporating scalable capabilities into its operations.
“Tactical vehicle electrification, initially through hybrid electric technology, has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but it should also provide significant operational capability,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said in a conversation on climate change last year.
Canoo has landed orders for its customizable vehicle platform from a range of customers this year, with Walmart to NASA announcing plans to use the EVs in their respective operations starting in 2023.
Now, Canoo is rapidly expanding its manufacturing footprint as it prepares to bring its vehicles to market next year. Last month, the company announced plans for a battery plant and outfitting an existing vehicle manufacturing plant for its EVs, targeting production of 20,000 units annually by the end of 2023.
The Army is vetting other suppliers on the EV front. General Motors was also selected to demonstrate an EV, leveraging its GMC Hummer EV and Ultium platform to meet the requirements.
