FedEx has received the first five of 500 GM-built electric delivery trucks, according to the firm. The initiative is a significant step forward for FedEx in its declared aim of having an all-electric delivery fleet and being carbon neutral globally by 2040. FedEx’s chief sustainability officer Mitch Jackson remarked, “The delivery of the first BrightDrop EV600s is a historic event, built out of a spirit of partnership between two major American corporations.” “Electric vehicle conversion of our pickup and delivery fleet is critical to meeting our ambitious environmental targets outlined earlier this year.”
FedEx has been testing Brightdrop’s electric EP1 pallets and has named as a significant customer for the Brightdrop EV600 vehicles. Brightdrop split off GM, which owns Chevrolet and Cadillac, earlier this year. “The EV600 combines the greatest features of a standard van and a step-in van into one vehicle,” stated Brightdrop CEO Travis Katz. “It’s also the fastest-built vehicle in GM history, from idea to market.”
The all-wheel-drive EV600 has a load capacity of 600 cubic feet and can travel up to 250 miles on a single charge. Drivers get a cargo security system, auto-locking doors, and motion-activated interior illumination on the inside. Automatic emergency braking and parking assistance are also available to them. The EP1 is a type of trolley that commonly seen in stores and warehouses. It has 23 cubic feet of storage capacity and an electric motor that enables moving big goods simpler.
The first five EV600s have arrived at FedEx’s Inglewood Express facility. FedEx is constructing charging stations throughout its network of sites to support them, with 500 already deployed in California.
It is also collaborating with utilities to assess the amount of electrical grid capacity needed for its charging infrastructure. When FedEx collaborated with GM on electrical distribution, UPS placed an order with the UK’s Arrival Ltd for 10,000 electric delivery trucks. Meanwhile, Amazon has placed an order for 100,000 Rivian electric delivery vehicles and has a 20% stake in the firm. Revian Electric Delivery has already begun in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, putting Amazon ahead of both FedEx and UPS.
