General Motors Co.’s technology startup BrightDrop today delivered its first 150 Zevo 600 electric delivery vehicles to FedEx Express in southern California. FedEx Express is a subsidiary of the Memphis, Tenn.-FedEx Corp. and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies.
The initial delivery is part of a larger agreement between FedEx and BrightDrop that will see the delivery service incorporate 2,500 total Zevo 600s across FedEx operations over the next few years. FedEx says it plans to transform its entire parcel pickup and delivery (PUD) fleet to all-electric, zero-tailpipe emissions by 2040.
The Zevo 600, powered by GM’s Ultium Platform, is designed for last-mile deliveries, with an estimated range of up to 250 miles on a full charge. It is the fastest vehicle to market in GM’s history.
“This shows how BrightDrop is delivering sustainable solutions at scale to customers today, and we couldn’t be happier to be part of FedEx’s sustainability journey,” say Travis Katz, president and CEO of BrightDrop. “Our Zevo 600 has been a record-setting vehicle from the start. From a record-setting time to market, to delivering one of the largest fleets of electric delivery vans on the road today, BrightDrop is showing the world what sustainable delivery looks like.”
FedEx Chief Sustainability Officer Mitch Jackson says: “At FedEx, we have ambitious sustainability goals, and our phased approach to vehicle electrification is a crucial part of our roadmap to achieve carbon neutral global operations. In just under six months, we’ve taken delivery of 150 BrightDrop Zevo 600s for our parcel pickup and delivery fleet. In today’s climate of chip shortages and supply chain issues, that’s no ordinary feat and a true testament to the collaboration between FedEx and BrightDrop.”
To support the new vehicle technology, FedEx is building charging infrastructure across its network of facilities, including the more than 500 charging stations the company has already installed across California. FedEx also is actively working with utility companies to help evaluate and determine the capacity needed for electrical grids to support such charging infrastructure and is investing to expand on-site generation and procurement of renewable energy in its facilities.
“For FedEx to successfully achieve our sustainability goals, it will require collaboration across the public, nonprofit, and corporate sectors,” Jackson says. “Our ongoing collaboration with BrightDrop is a perfect example of what is possible when two organizations come together and work toward achieving similar goals in pursuit of a better world.”
For more information on BrightDrop, visit here.
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