FedEx furthers fleet electrification with 150 BrightDrop electric vehicles

The 150 BrightDrop Zevo 600s were delivered throughout Southern California to FedEx Express. (Photo: FedEx)

FedEx Corp. has taken delivery of 150 electric last-mile delivery vehicles from BrightDrop, General Motors’ technology startup dedicated to decarbonizing last-mile delivery. Receipt of the vehicles marks a milestone for FedEx as it works to move its entire parcel pickup and delivery fleet to all-electric/zero-emissions by 2040.

“At FedEx, we have ambitious sustainability goals, and our phased approach to vehicle electrification is a crucial part of our roadmap to achieve carbon neutral global operations,” said Mitch Jackson, chief sustainability officer. “In just under six months, we’ve taken delivery of 150 BrightDrop Zevo 600s for our parcel pickup and delivery fleet. In today’s climate of chip shortages and supply chain issues, that’s no ordinary feat and is a true testament to the collaboration between FedEx and BrightDrop.”

The delivery comes just months after BrightDrop announced commercialization of the all-electric vans. Powered by GM’s Ultium Platform, the Zevo 600 has an estimated range of up to 250 miles on a full charge. Regenerative braking allows for energy recovery during deceleration, helping to extend vehicle range. The van is rated at a 9900-lb. GVWR and provides over 600 cu. ft. of cargo space and up to an estimated 2200-lb. payload.

To support its electric vehicles, FedEx is building charging infrastructure across its network of facilities. (Photo: FedEx)

“Our Zevo 600 has been a record-setting vehicle from the start,” said Travis Katz, president and CEO of BrightDrop. “From a record-setting time to market, to delivering one of the largest fleets of electric delivery vans on the road today, BrightDrop is showing the world what sustainable delivery looks like.”

The 150 vehicles were delivered throughout Southern California to FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., as part of a larger agreement that will see FedEx incorporate 2,500 of the vehicles across its operations over the next few years. To support the vehicles, FedEx is building charging infrastructure across its network of facilities, adding to the more than 500 charging stations it has already installed across California.

FedEx is also actively working with utility companies to help evaluate and determine the capacity needed for electrical grids to support its charging infrastructure, and is investing to expand on-site generation and procurement of renewable energy in its facilities.