BrightDrop delivered the first five of 500 electric light commercial vehicles to FedEx, the first customer to the receive the EV600s, which are the fastest built vehicles, from concept to market, in General Motors history.
The introduction of the all electric vehicles into the FedEx fleet is an important step in the company’s goal to take its global operations carbon neutral by 2040.
“The delivery of the first BrightDrop EV600s is a historic moment, born out of a spirit of collaboration between two leading American companies,” said Mitch Jackson, chief sustainability officer, FedEx.
“FedEx has ambitious sustainability goals, and the speed with which we brought the first BrightDrop electric vehicles to market shows how the private sector can innovate and help bring solutions for some of our biggest climate- and emissions-related challenges,” said Travis Katz, president and CEO of BrightDrop.
The EV600 combines the best attributes of a traditional and a step-in van into one vehicle, with driver safety, comfort and convenience prioritised.
Powered by the Ultium battery platform, the EV600 is designed for deliveries, with an estimated range of up to 250 miles on a full charge. Purpose-built for the delivery of goods and services, the vehicle offers more than 600 cubic feet of cargo area.
“The EV600 combines the best attributes of a traditional and a step-in van into one vehicle, keeping driver safety, comfort, and convenience top of mind,” said Katz. “It’s also the fastest built vehicle, from concept to market, in GM’s history.”
These first EV600s were delivered to the FedEx Express facility in Inglewood, Calif. where they will be housed and operated. FedEx is building charging infrastructure across its network of facilities, including the 500 charging stations the company has already installed across California. It is also actively working with utility companies to help evaluate and determine the capacity needed for electrical grids to support such charging infrastructure.