FedEx has just taken delivery of its first five electric Light Commercial Vehicles (eLCVs) from BrightDrop as part of a wider goal to operate an all-electric, zero-emission fleet globally by 2040.
A total of 500 BrightDrop EV600 eLCVs have been ordered from BrightDrop, with FedEx aiming to achieve 50% electric vehicle purchases by 2025, rising to 100% by 2030. FedEx said it selected BrightDrop as a partner due to it being “backed by a world leader in the automotive industry.”
BrightDrop is the business General Motors created back in 2019 when it was known as Smart Cargo. It brought together GM’s electric vehicle development plans with software and data-driven services to offer a complete solution. The first product being offered is the EV600 FedEx ordered, which uses GM’s Ultium Battery.
Each EV600 includes 600 cubic feet of cargo space and can carry up to 2,200lbs of payload. The 20-module Ultium battery offers a range of 250 miles and a recharge rate of 160 miles per hour using a 120kW FC fast charger. The all-wheel drive vehicle provides the driver with a heated cabin, low step-in heights, and a number of hand grips to help avoid injury and fatigue. There’s also a number of safety features included as standard including automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, a HD rear vision camera, and front and rear park assist.
These first five vehicles were delivered to a FedEx Express facility in Inglewood, California where they will remain and operate from. FedEx is currently installing a network of charges to support an increasing number of EVs, with 500 having already been installed across California.
