FedEx received its first five electric delivery vans from an order of 500. FedEx's stated goal to be carbon neutral by 2040 is an important landmark for the company.
FedEx and BrightDrop collaborated to make the delivery of the first EV600s a historic moment.
FedEx has been testing Brightdrop's electric EP1 pallet over the last few months. The Brightdrop business unit was spun out of GM early this year. The EV600 combines the best attributes of a traditional and a step-in van into one vehicle, keeping driver safety, comfort, and convenience top of mind. It is the fastest built vehicle in GM's history.
The EV600 can go up to 250 miles on a charge and has 600 square feet of cargo space. Drivers get a security system in the cargo area, auto-locking doors, and motion-activated interior lighting. Automatic emergency braking and parking assistance help them. An electric motor makes it easier to move heavy objects with the EP1, a trolley with 23 square feet of space and an electric motor.
The first five EV600s will be delivered to FedEx. 500 charging stations are already installed across California, and FedEx is building more. It is working with utility companies to evaluate electrical grid capacity.
FedEx and GM have both invested in electric delivery trucks, but rival UPS has ordered 10,000 electric delivery trucks from Arrival. Amazon placed an order for 100,000 Rivian electric delivery vans and even owns a 20 percent piece of the company. Amazon is ahead of both FedEx andUPS, having started Rivian electric deliveries in both Los Angeles and San Francisco.
This article was originally published on Engadget.
