Merchants Fleet, a national fleet management company, plans to procure 12,600 light commercial EVs from BrightDrop, GM’s recently-announced business venture. Merchants Fleet expects the BrightDrop EV600, an electric van optimized for last-mile goods delivery, to enter its clients’ fleets starting in early 2023.

BrightDrop’s EV600 will be built on GM’s Ultium platform. The new e-van will have an estimated range of up to 250 miles, and a charging rate of up to 170 miles per hour via a 120 kW DC fast charging station.

Merchants Fleet aims to electrify 50% of its mobility fleet portfolio by 2025, and 50% of its managed fleet portfolio by 2030. The company’s new Electrify Fleet initiative is focused on educating clients about the advantages of going electric, and providing tools to help them make a seamless and cost-effective transition to EVs. Merchants has hired electrification expert Hari Nayar as Director of Electrification and Sustainability to lead the program.

“We are proud to be the first fleet management company to work with BrightDrop, the innovative and vital new solution from GM,” said Brendan P. Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet. “Merchants Fleet is fully committed to the future of electrification, and working to add BrightDrop EV600s to our clients’ fleets is an exciting part of our broader strategy.”

“Merchants Fleet’s move to add such a large number of BrightDrop EV600s to their portfolio signals their strong commitment to accelerate the electric fleet movement,” said BrightDrop CEO Travis Katz.

Source: Merchants Fleet