BrightDrop, a technology startup from General Motors Co. in Detroit, announced that Merchants Fleet, a leading fleet management company, plans to expand its purchase order to 18,000 BrightDrop EVs with the addition of 5,400 EV410s—the recently unveiled mid-size electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV).
The order of the EV410s adds to the 12,600 EV600s slated to be integrates into the company’s fleet in 2023.
“Merchants Fleet’s plan to purchase such a large order of our electric commercial vehicles shows they are serious about leading the fleet industry’s transformation to an all-electric future, and confident in BrightDrop’s ability to bring that vision to life,” says Travis Katz, president and CEO of BrightDrop.
“The collaboration with Merchants Fleet opens the door for other companies that want to electrify their fleets by providing access to our portfolio of electric vehicles, which is a critical step toward decreasing vehicle-related emissions in the communities where we live.”
With an estimated range of up to 250 miles on a full charge, the EV410 is well-suited for faster, smaller payload deliveries or as a last-mile and traditional service vehicle. The EV410s available gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds also reduces the need for additional operating licenses, expanding zero-emissions driving to new segments.
“We are dedicated to meeting our fleet clients’ EV needs, from top to bottom,” says Brendan P. Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet. “Every fleet has different requirements, so we need to provide flexibility and offer best-in-class solutions, at every level. The electrification of fleet is no longer in the future – it is here, and we are proud to work with BrightDrop to reach diverse segments and drive this transformation forward.”
Earlier this year, Merchants released an exclusive AdoptEV program that guides businesses through every step of the fleet electrification process — from assessing needs to purchasing the right vehicles to charging options and infrastructure.
For Merchants clients like Staples, guidance and support are key to making the transition to EV. Staples currently operates a fleet of 1500 throughout North America and has recently begun introducing EVs into their current delivery fleet.
“This is a really exciting step forward as we explore opportunities to implement more EVs into our fleet and meeting the goals of our EV strategy.” says Paul Tarpey director of fleet procurement at Staples. “By Merchants investing in EVs they are making it possible for Staples to take tangible steps toward electrification, with innovative options like the EV410 that will allow us to transition some of our smaller fleet vehicles to EV as well.”
