General Motors announced today at CES it will be launching a new delivery and logistics business called BrightDrop. Its first product? An all-electric van powered by the company's Ultium architecture, with a range of 250 miles.
Dubbed the EV600, the van will have over 600 cubic feet of cargo area, and be available with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 pounds. There are Level 2 and DC fast-charging capabilities, meaning a peak charge rate of 170 miles per hour.
The standard features list reads like something on a new luxury car rather than a delivery van. There's a 13.4-inch infotainment screen up front, and a cargo security area security system with motion sensors to ensure cargo gets where it's supposed to safely. There's also a host of standard safety systems, including front and rear park assist, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Buyers can also add on rear cross-traffic braking, blind zone steering assist, reverse automatic braking, surround vision cameras, rear pedestrian alert, and enhanced automatic emergency braking.
In addition to the van, GM is also launching an all-electric pallet, also powered by its Ultium battery architecture. It's designed to carry 23 cubic feet of cargo, with a payload capacity of 200 pounds. During a pilot program completed in partnership with FedEx Express, handlers were able to move 25 percent more packages per day versus with their normal equipment.
FedEx is set to be BrightDrop's first customer, with plans to take delivery of its first batch of EV600s later this year. We're curious to see how many of them we'll see on the road in 2021.
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
