GM Unveils BrightDrop EV600 Electric Delivery Van
Photo: GM
As part of its new BrightDrop spinoff, General Motors is introducing an all-electric van and an array of other efficient, integrated products and services to help delivery businesses.
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According to GM CEO and Chairman Mary Barra, BrightDrop aims to serve as a “one-stop-shop solution for commercial customers to move goods in a better, more sustainable way.”
Over the next few years, GM is expecting massive growth in demand for urban last-mile delivery, thanks to the popularity of online commerce around the world. However, the explosion in short-distance deliveries could also cause a big increase in carbon emissions. BrightDrop is seeking to meet demand while contributing to GM’s vision of “zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.”
EV600 electric van
The EV600 electric van is the most important part of BrightDrop’s strategy. This zero-emissions delivery vehicle gets its power from the Ultium battery platform. It will offer up to 250 miles of range, fast-charging capabilities, and more than 600 feet of cargo capacity. The EV600 should be widely available for delivery customers starting in 2022.
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Photo: GM
EP1 electric pallet
Before the EV600 arrives, BrightDrop’s EP1 electric pallet will be available to improve delivery efficiency and reduce strain on couriers. Capable of carrying 200 pounds and 23 cubic feet of cargo, the EP1 can efficiently transport items from the delivery vehicle to the customer’s door and cover other short distances. In testing, the EP1 helped drivers deliver 25 percent more packages with less bodily strain.
Other BrightDrop offerings
BrightDrop will also sell a software platform to help customers manage EV1 and EV600 operations. Key functions for this platform include battery status and location tracking, diagnostics, and other fleet management and mobile asset management options.
In coming years, BrightDrop also has plans for a variety of other products. These include a rapid-load delivery vehicle and a vehicle that carries several EP1 pallets.
Thanks to an early partnership with FedEx, BrightDrop has already been able to do quite a bit of real-world testing. This new GM unit is poised to make a major impact as it rolls out its lineup of sustainable delivery products and services across the U.S. and Canada.
A longtime editor/writer and recently transplanted Hoosier, Caleb Cook lives in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. See more articles by Caleb.