General Motors announced a new business, BrightDrop, to electrify and improve the delivery of goods and services. The new business will offer an ecosystem of electric first-to-last-mile products, software, and services to empower delivery and logistics companies to more efficiently transport goods from the warehouse shelf to the retail shelf or front door.
These BrightDrop solutions are designed to help businesses lower costs, maximize productivity, improve employee safety and freight security, and support overall sustainability efforts. The solution consists of two vehicles: the BrightDrop EP1, an electric pallet, and the BrightDrop EV600, an electric light commercial vehicle.
BrightDrop’s first product to market, the EP1, will be a propulsion-assisted, electric pallet that easily moves goods over short distances. It can be used in logistics centers to create orders, but also to deliver to the customer’s front door, for example.
The built-in electric hub motors mounted in the wheels provide an adjustable speed up to 3 mph (5 km/h) depending on the operator’s walking pace. The EP1 carries and secures approximately 23 total cubic feet of cargo and has a payload capacity of 200 pounds (90 kg). The lockable cabinet doors allow for secure, remote access to contents.
The second product, the BrightDrop EV600, is an electric light commercial vehicle purpose-built to deliver goods and services over long ranges. Powered by the Ultium battery system, the EV600 is targeted to have an estimated range of up to 250 miles (402 km) on a full charge, which can be done with a 120 kW fast charger and obtain a reserve of 170 miles (274 km) in just one hour. Among its characteristics, it stands out that it will have over 600 cubic feet of cargo area, wide corridors for circulation, and sliding doors.
As elements of equipment and functions, it will have a 13.4-inch-diagonal, full-color infotainment screen and a security system with motion sensors for the cargo area. A comprehensive driving assistance package will also be included. Its standard safety features 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.
BrightDrop’s electric pallet, the EP1, will be available in early 2021, and its electric light commercial vehicle, the EV600, will be on roads in late 2021. FedEx Express will be the first customer of the new, integrated solution.
