American automotive giant General Motors has just announced a new business unit, BrightDrop, which will offer an ecosystem of electric first-to-last-mile vehicles, software and services to empower delivery and logistics companies to move goods more efficiently.
These BrightDrop solutions are designed to help courier and delivery businesses lower costs, maximise productivity, improve employee safety and freight security, and support overall sustainability efforts.
This could not have come at a better time, considering the pandemic has brought up online shopping and delivery demands to an all-time high.
Delivery company FedEx Express will be the first customer for BrightDrop’s electric pallet called the EP1. This will be followed by 500 units of the battery-powered EV600 cargo van.
The motorised delivery box EP1 features built-in electric hub motors with an adjustable speed up to approximately 5km/h, depending on the operator’s walking pace, and can be manoeuvrable in tight spaces.
It can carry and secure approximately 23 total cubic feet of cargo with a payload capacity of 90 kg, and has adjustable shelving that can organise contents. Lockable cabinet doors also allow for secure, remote access to contents.
BrightDrop’s second product to market will be the EV600, which is an electric light commercial vehicle purpose-built for the delivery of goods and services over long ranges.
It will combine zero-emissions driving with a range of advanced safety and convenience features more common in consumer electric vehicles.
Powered by the Ultium battery system, the EV600 is targeted to have an estimated range of up to 400km miles on a full charge. It covers over 600 cubic feet of cargo area and is available at a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 4,535 kg.
The EV600 also comes with a cargo area security system with motion sensors to help keep cargo secure, a 13.4-inch-diagonal, full-colour infotainment screen and front sliding pocket doors, wide cabin walkways and a large auto-open cargo bulkhead door to optimise driver efficiency.
Its standard leading safety features, on the other hand, include Front and Rear Park Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Following Distance Indicator, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, IntelliBeam automatic high beams and HD Rear Vision Camera.
Additional available safety and driver assistance features include Rear Cross-Traffic Braking, Blind Zone Steering Assist, Reverse Automatic Braking, HD Surround Vision, Rear Pedestrian Alert, Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, among others.
Early customer interest in the EV600 has been strong, with the first vehicles to be delivered by the end of this year.
As BrightDrop expects to make the EV600s available to more customers to order starting in early 2022, could Malaysia be the next to bring in this new line of electric delivery vans?
We shall wait and see.
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