In the year that was 2020, the demand for delivery equipment increased significantly. Combine that growing demand with the desire to electrify this business, and you end up with BrightDrop. BrightDrop is a GM-owned business that will electrify the logistics and delivering goods and services.
During her CES 2021 Keynote, GM CEO Mary Barra announced the new company. It’s first product, the EP1, is an electric pallet designed to help make it easier for delivery drivers making their last mile deliveries.
To get those electric pallets to the delivery site from the warehouse, the EV600 is called into service. This is BrightDrop’s electric delivery van.
Powered by Ultium, the EV600 has both DCFC ability as well as standard level 2 charging.
“BrightDrop offers a smarter way to deliver goods and services,” said Mary Barra GM Chairman and CEO. “We are building on our significant expertise in electrification, mobility applications, telematics and fleet management, with a new one-stop-shop solution for commercial customers to move goods in a better, more sustainable way.”
The EV600 is expected to have a range of 250 miles on a full charge, which would be significantly more range than Ford’s E-Transit electric cargo van.
It’ll charge at up to 120 kW on a DCFC, meaning it can add up to 170 miles of range per hour of charging.
It’ll have 600 cubic feet of cargo area and a GVWR that is less than 10,000 pounds. Like competitors, the EV600 will have a lot of advanced safety features as standard. A 13.4-inch infotainment screen is also on board.
Plus, as you know, it’s a cargo van. So it’ll have sliding pocket doors, wide walkways, and even and automatically opening cargo bulkhead door.
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Expect the van to start arriving to customers by the end of the year.
As for the before mentioned EP1 pallet, it can move at up to 3 mph, carry 200 pounds of cargo with a volume of up to 23 cubic feet. It’s all lockable, too, so someone can’t steal your PS5.
FedEx is the first customer, running pilot programs for both the pallet and the van.
“Our need for reliable, sustainable transportation has never been more important,” said Richard Smith, FedEx Express regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support. “BrightDrop is a perfect example of the innovations we are adopting to transform our company as time-definite express transportation continues to grow. With this new suite of products, we will help improve the safety, security and timeliness of FedEx Express deliveries, while reducing our environmental impact and protecting the well-being of our couriers.”
With all of the electric logistics solutions coming, fleet buyers are soon going to be spoiled for choice.
