Ryder announces the official entrance of its BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric vans

Earlier this week, Miami-based Miami-based freight transportation and logistics services provider Ryder System Inc. heralded the initial rollout of its BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric vans at four strategic facilities in California, Texas, and New York.

This follows the company’s April announcement, in which Ryder stated it would make a significant expansion of its sustainable fleet, coupled with its plans to meet rising demand for commercial electric vehicles (EV) throughout the freight transportation and logistics sectors.

The company added in April that it will introduce 4,000 BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric vans to its lease and rental fleet through 2025, adding that the first 200, for Ryder's rental fleet, would be ordered in 2023. And it added that the Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric vans have a 250-mile range on a full charge, while supporting a payload of roughly 2,000-to-3,400 pounds. The Zevo 600 has a cargo capacity of more than 600 cubic feet and the Zevo 400 has a cargo capacity of more than 400 cubic feet, according to Ryder, adding that the BrightDrop electric vans provide the benefits of an electric powertrain, coupled with ample cargo space.

“Working with companies such as BrightDrop keeps Ryder at the forefront of identifying and testing advanced and emerging vehicle technology, and we’re excited to incorporate these new EVs into our fleet,” says Tom Havens, president of fleet management solutions for Ryder, in a statement. “Through our partnerships with technology providers and equipment manufacturers, Ryder can offer commercial fleet management solutions that drive sustainability and operational goals for our customers.”

Ryder officials said that the BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric vans are available for rent at its locations in Southern California (Santa Fe Springs); Northern California (Hayward); Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (Saginaw); and New York (Long Island City).

And the company added that BrightDrop Zevos and other EV options are available for rent through the Ryder rental fleet, which it said provides flexible vehicle insurance coverage, 24x7 roadside assistance, single-source maintenance, geotagging for tracking and monitoring vehicle usage, and more. It also noted that the charging infrastructure at Ryder facilities is enabled by ChargePoint, a provider of networked hardware and software solutions for charging EVs, and public charging stations offer accessible charging options, enabling longer trips and greater flexibility.

Earlier this year, Carlo Rodriguez, group director for advanced vehicle technology for Ryder, told LM that the electrification of commercial vehicles is accelerating, with about 75% of the 200 largest U.S. fleet operators having publicly committed to decarbonization targets, which is the equivalent of about 140 fleets or 1.2 million vehicles.  

“Our internal research on our targeted commercial fleets shows that about 50% of fleet owners plan to have their first EV by 2023,” said Rodriguez. “And, about 65% (or two-thirds) of our targeted commercial fleets plan to outsource due to the complexity and the items you need to start/operate. Ordering a significant batch of eVans for our rental fleet allows Ryder customers to rent units short term and allows them to get more touches, and in different markets. And these rentals are available to customers of all kind (prospects, existing local and national accounts), and the majority of the existing rental customers are long term lease customers as well. This all comes together and helps customers with their EV adoption, decarb commitments, and compliance requirements.”

When asked what the main benefits of these new vans are for Ryder customers, the Ryder executive cited the following:

• the BrightDrop Zevos are purpose-built from the ground up based on a ton or research and experience from the BrightDrop and GM teams that were focused on operators and their needs to have the most efficient, safe, and secure eVans on the road;
• they are excellent for delivery of goods and services;
• the eVans can come with various specifications, including a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) under 10,000 pounds, which provides operators and companies with a lot of flexibility. The lower GVWR option also minimizes the need for additional licensing and qualifies more drivers for companies;
• the different models also benefit customers and fleets by providing options, as the ZEVO 400 model can fit in a public parking space;
• regenerative braking system allows for recovery of energy during deceleration, which extends vehicle range and the life of the brake pads;
• segment leading safety features; and
• with uptime being critical for commercial fleets, it is an important customer benefit that Ryder has the ability to provide preventive and full-service maintenance for the BrightDrop Zevo’s at one of Ryder’s nearly 800 maintenance facilities. This allows fleets to keep moving for their clients and promises

As for next steps, Rodriguez said Ryder continues to work with key OEMs on monitoring medium and heavy-duty EV opportunities for our customers.

“Much of the foundational work on eVans will transition and apply to other vehicle classes as well,” he said. “