Van

A van is a versatile road vehicle designed to transport either goods or people.

Depending on the country, the word can describe many different types of vehicles. Some are tiny microvans used for small amounts of cargo. Others are large vehicles used by institutions to move groups of students. Because they can be customized, vans serve many roles in modern society. They act as mobile studios for television stations and delivery tools for postal services.

The design of a van depends on its intended purpose. Cargo vans are often built with only front seats to maximize space for equipment. Passenger vans, such as minivans, are designed to carry people comfortably.

In the United States, some full-size vans are built on a cutaway van chassis. This is an incomplete vehicle where the body is cut off behind the driver's cab. This allows a second-stage manufacturer, or bodybuilder, to finish the vehicle. They might turn that chassis into an ambulance, a small school bus, or a recreational vehicle.

Vans vary significantly in their mechanical layouts and sizes. Minivans are smaller and have a lower center of gravity than full-size models. This lower center of gravity helps with handling and prevents the vehicle from rolling over.

Full-size vans are larger and boxier, often using parts from light trucks. Some early models featured a flat nose where the engine was placed between or behind the front seats. Later innovations moved the engine forward under a short hood. This area where the engine is housed is sometimes called a dog house.

History shows how the van has evolved from much simpler beginnings. The word "van" is actually a contraction of the word caravan.

The earliest English records of a van as a vehicle date to 1829. At that time, a van was simply a covered wagon for transporting goods. In the 1930s, people used sedan deliveries for similar tasks. The first generation of American vans appeared in the 1960s. These compact models were often patterned after the size of the Volkswagen Bus.

The first full-size van was the 1969 Ford Econoline. It was an innovation because it used components from the Ford F-Series pickups.

This moved the engine forward and created a more robust vehicle. Since then, many different styles have emerged globally. In Japan, manufacturers produced many vans based on the American flat-nose model. They also created microvans that follow specific kei car regulations for small businesses.

Different regions use the term "van" to mean different things. In the United Kingdom, a van usually refers to a vehicle that carries goods only. A passenger version in the U.S. might be called a "people-carrier" or an MPV in the UK. In Australia, the term can describe a minivan or a passenger minibus. It can even be used interchangeably with the word caravan. In India, vans are a common way to transport children to school when buses are full.

Many specialized vehicles exist to perform specific jobs. Delivery companies often use step vans, which are named for their design.

These have high rooftops and wider bodies to help workers step in and out quickly. In the U.S., people also use "dry vans" for most goods and "reefers," or refrigerated vans, for cold items. Some vans even serve as commuter vehicles. Since 1971, Dodge has produced vans that can carry up to 15 passengers for commuting.

Safety is a major consideration for larger van models. Because vans are taller than cars, they have a higher center of gravity. This can make them more prone to rolling over. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that belted passengers are four times more likely to survive such crashes. To protect people, many commercial vans include cargo barriers.

These barriers sit behind the seats to stop unsecured items from flying forward during a collision.