NASA and USPS Halt Canoo EV Use - Electric Vehicle News

Canoo Electric Vans Discontinued by NASA and USPS

Despite assurances from the former CEO regarding continued support, both NASA and the United States Postal Service have ceased utilizing electric vans manufactured by Canoo, the now-defunct electric vehicle startup.

NASA's Shift Away from Canoo Vehicles

In 2023, NASA acquired three of Canoo’s electric vehicles. The initial plan involved employing these vans to transport astronauts to the launchpad for Artemis missions destined for the moon. However, the space agency communicated to TechCrunch that Canoo “was unable to fulfill the necessary mission criteria.”

Currently, NASA is utilizing an Airstream-built “Astrovan” leased from Boeing, a vehicle originally commissioned by Boeing for its own crewed spaceflights, as of October.

USPS Concludes Evaluation of Canoo Vans

The USPS, in a statement, indicated that the six vehicles purchased in 2024 “for assessment” are no longer operational. The postal service stated that the “evaluation process is now complete” and “no additional investment is planned.”

Details regarding the evaluation’s findings were not disclosed by the USPS.

Department of Defense and Canoo

Prior to its bankruptcy filing, Canoo supplied at least one demonstration vehicle to the Department of Defense (DOD). The DOD has not yet responded to inquiries concerning the continued use of this van.

Canoo's Bankruptcy and Tony Aquila's Bid

Canoo declared bankruptcy in January 2025 following prolonged financial difficulties and an inability to gain traction in the electric van market.

Subsequently, former CEO Tony Aquila submitted a $4 million bid for the company’s assets in March. Aquila conveyed to the bankruptcy trustee that a key motivation for this purchase was a “commitment to uphold [Canoo’s] obligations to provide service and support for specific government initiatives.”

Lack of Communication Regarding Support

Both NASA and the USPS have stated they did not receive any outreach from Aquila regarding ongoing vehicle support. Requests for comment from Aquila went unanswered.

A legal representative who previously assisted Aquila during the bankruptcy proceedings also did not respond to inquiries.

Sale Approval and Competing Interests

The bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Canoo’s assets to Aquila in April. However, he wasn’t the sole party interested in acquiring the company.

The bankruptcy trustee revealed that up to eight parties signed non-disclosure agreements to assess Canoo’s intellectual property, prototypes, and equipment.

Competing Bids and Allegations

A lawyer representing Canoo mentioned that several of these parties were close to submitting formal bids. Among them was Harbinger, an electric trucking firm established by former Canoo personnel in 2021.

Another potential bidder was Charles Garson, a financier based in the U.K.

Disputes During the Bankruptcy Process

Harbinger accused Canoo of concealing assets during the sale process. They also alleged that the bankruptcy trustee demonstrated bias towards Aquila by accepting his offer without adequately marketing the company’s assets.

Garson expressed a willingness to pay up to $20 million for Canoo’s assets, but the judge determined his bid wasn’t submitted within the required timeframe.

Justification for Accepting Aquila's Bid

The trustee and Canoo’s legal team argued that Aquila’s bid was the most viable and definitive. They also raised concerns that another potential bidder—without naming the specific entity—could have triggered scrutiny from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States due to its “international ownership.”

Concerns about foreign ownership were particularly relevant given the existing contracts with NASA, the USPS, and the DOD.

Harbinger and Garson both declined to provide comments.