BrightDrop

As a subsidiary of General Motors, BrightDrop markets itself as an all-electric commercial delivery and logistics forerunner. With a focus on smarter, safer, and more efficient technology, BrightDrop offers more than just electric vehicles as part of a delivery fleet; it offers a delivery ecosystem comprised of smart containers and software alongside its vans as part of its mission to decarbonize delivery miles.

The BrightDrop lineup comprises two vans for production and an electric pallet called the Trace eCart. Supporting cloud-based software and fleet management tools are also available.

BrightDrop Vehicles In The USA

With the aim of seamlessly blending all-electric products and software to move the delivery process into the future, BrightDrop’s current product range is based on the following:

• Electric power: The BrightDrop Zevo 600 and its smaller sibling rely on electric power courtesy of GM’s Ultium batteries. The Zevo 600 has 300 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, an all-wheel drive setup, and a smaller carbon footprint than traditional delivery vans.
• Charging and range: BrightDrop is targeting 250 miles of range with the Zevo 600. It uses regenerative braking to recover energy, and is compatible with level 2 charging and DC fast charging, and the automaker estimates a maximum of 160 miles of range can be added per hour, with the right setup.
• Maximized productivity: The delivery van has been designed to make the process of loading and unloading more efficient. To this end, there is improved access to the cargo bay and low step-in heights. And with the ‘ecosystem’ approach to delivery, BrightDrop wants to reduce the number of steps in the entire process, hence motorized carts with automatic braking.
• Improved safety: Together with a cutting-edge powertrain, the Zevo 600 also comes with the latest in driver assistance features, including an HD rearview camera, forward-collision alert, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-zone steering assist, cruise control, and more.

Price Of BrightDrop EVs

With only a handful of products currently available, the price of BrightDrop vans can be summarized as follows:

What to Consider When Buying a BrightDrop EV

With the automotive industry headed firmly in the direction of electrification, GM and BrightDrop have committed to a future where electric delivery vehicles become the norm. Here are some positives and negatives to consider:

Pros

• All-electric power is ample
• Lower running costs due to charging costs vs. gas bills
• Smaller carbon footprint
• Customizable cargo bay via upfitters
• Various supporting products available to maximize productivity
• Unique looks and cool “new” factor
• Over 600 cubes of cargo space
• Class-leading safety features are standard

Cons

• Small-scale purchases have a long waiting list as larger corporations have ordered large numbers of the van
• It may be new, but parts of the cabin aren’t - for example, the steering wheel used comes from a GM truck, the Chevrolet Silverado, while the instrument cluster is the same as that found in the Chevy Bolt.
• Untested for reliability and safety

FAQs