4 ms·

I’ve been wondering what the most repairable vehicle might look like, and I guess the USPS already put a lot of brain power into that problem. I presume this is

I’ve been wondering what the most repairable vehicle might look like, and I guess the USPS already put a lot of brain power into that problem. I presume this is ugly because it’s both purpose built and highly repairable.

viraptor 4y ago
Ugly is subjective. I see it as "modern style has been sacrificed to achieve functionality/safety/..." and that's a form of beautiful for me.
- nemo44x 4y ago
  I guess they are saying it’s “functional” but lacks “form”. These are distinct things which do not imply one another. What we value is of course subjective.
  - viraptor 4y ago
    Utilitarian or industrial can be seen as a form itself as well. The lack of complex design in the body is both functional and a form.
- jplona 4y ago
  Also, the current ones aren't all that stylish either.
- hot_gril 4y ago
  Nah, it's objectively ugly. Doesn't really matter, though.
- euroderf 4y ago
  In the year 2100 it will be remembered as the Camaro of early EVs.
maxerickson 4y ago
At the moment they actually are buying electric Ford Transits, not the thing pictured at the link. Looks a lot like a van: https://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/e-transit/ https://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/e-transit/
- fortran77 4y ago
  I would love an electric version of the little "Transit Connect" with at least a 200 mile range...
  - Symbiote 4y ago
    There's an electric Transit with a 196 mile range, so I'm sure it won't be too long. https://www.ford.co.uk/vans-and-pickups/e-transit https://www.ford.co.uk/vans-and-pickups/e-transit
neilv 4y ago
The very "function" look will take some getting used to. I haven't figured out the styling around the front lights and grill. It doesn't seem as function-driven as the rest of the appearance, which I guess might be adding to the front looking odd.
Gigachad 4y ago
The design looks like it would have very good visibility. It's a huge problem with most vans and trucks where you have these huge blind spots in front.
- theshrike79 4y ago
  These delivery vans are 100% function over form. They have exact specs on how much the driver has to see of the surrounding area from the driving seat and the car is designed around that.
flavius29663 4y ago
it's ugly for visibility, so they don't have blind spots in front. This has been studied extensively, I can't find the link now
noisy_boy 4y ago
This ugly look will grow on folks who will nostalgically bemoan going away of these "ugly but trusty/distinctive/unique character/all familiar/<add nostalgic adjective>" trucks when they are replaced with a new design 10 years down the line.
- sgerenser 4y ago
  Current postal LLVs have been in use since the 1980s. I don’t see these new ones being replaced in 10 years.
0xbadcafebee 4y ago
Repairability isn't one of the top design requirements. The previous postal truck was the Grumman LLV (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_LLV https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_LLV). Check out this article on the design requirements and testing procedures: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/long-life-vehicle https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/lon... Because it was for (non-military) government use, it naturally sucked. No air con (but you got a tiny fan!), a dinky heater that didn't really help, the chassis of a Chevy S-10, a 3-speed auto, and the engine from a Fiero. But the parts were easy to source and cheap.

viraptor 4y ago

Ugly is subjective. I see it as "modern style has been sacrificed to achieve functionality/safety/..." and that's a form of beautiful for me.

nemo44x 4y ago
I guess they are saying it’s “functional” but lacks “form”. These are distinct things which do not imply one another. What we value is of course subjective.
- viraptor 4y ago
  Utilitarian or industrial can be seen as a form itself as well. The lack of complex design in the body is both functional and a form.
jplona 4y ago
Also, the current ones aren't all that stylish either.
hot_gril 4y ago
Nah, it's objectively ugly. Doesn't really matter, though.
euroderf 4y ago
In the year 2100 it will be remembered as the Camaro of early EVs.

maxerickson 4y ago

At the moment they actually are buying electric Ford Transits, not the thing pictured at the link. Looks a lot like a van: https://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/e-transit/ https://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/e-transit/

fortran77 4y ago
I would love an electric version of the little "Transit Connect" with at least a 200 mile range...
- Symbiote 4y ago
  There's an electric Transit with a 196 mile range, so I'm sure it won't be too long. https://www.ford.co.uk/vans-and-pickups/e-transit https://www.ford.co.uk/vans-and-pickups/e-transit

neilv 4y ago

The very "function" look will take some getting used to. I haven't figured out the styling around the front lights and grill. It doesn't seem as function-driven as the rest of the appearance, which I guess might be adding to the front looking odd.

Gigachad 4y ago

The design looks like it would have very good visibility. It's a huge problem with most vans and trucks where you have these huge blind spots in front.

theshrike79 4y ago
These delivery vans are 100% function over form. They have exact specs on how much the driver has to see of the surrounding area from the driving seat and the car is designed around that.

flavius29663 4y ago

it's ugly for visibility, so they don't have blind spots in front. This has been studied extensively, I can't find the link now

noisy_boy 4y ago

This ugly look will grow on folks who will nostalgically bemoan going away of these "ugly but trusty/distinctive/unique character/all familiar/<add nostalgic adjective>" trucks when they are replaced with a new design 10 years down the line.

sgerenser 4y ago
Current postal LLVs have been in use since the 1980s. I don’t see these new ones being replaced in 10 years.

0xbadcafebee 4y ago

Repairability isn't one of the top design requirements. The previous postal truck was the Grumman LLV (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_LLV https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_LLV). Check out this article on the design requirements and testing procedures: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/long-life-vehicle https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/lon... Because it was for (non-military) government use, it naturally sucked. No air con (but you got a tiny fan!), a dinky heater that didn't really help, the chassis of a Chevy S-10, a 3-speed auto, and the engine from a Fiero. But the parts were easy to source and cheap.