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GM launches commercial EV brand, with FedEx as first customer


Harley Lover

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13 hours ago, 7Mary3 said:

 

I have a feeling that this van is bigger than a Sprinter or transit.  While the engine 'doghouse' is gone, the batteries had to go somewhere, and even if they are primarily under the load floor they still take up volume.  Unless I am wrong, those wheels appear to be the heavy duty steel 18" wheels from the Silverado/Sierra 3500HD's and if so that gives the perspective this vehicle is closer to the size of a UPS package car.  

 

1 hour ago, akirby said:

That van appears to be a class above transit and not aimed at the same market.

 

GM said the GVWR is under 10,000 lbs so that puts it in Class 2b, same as Transit 250, Sprinter, Promaster 2500 etc. GM is able to achieve 600 cubic feet of cargo volume by maximizing the cargo area. The competing Class 2b vans max out at around 500 cubic feet due to the engine compartment taking up to 25% of the length, and probably higher load floor to make room for drive shaft and gas tank.

 

The standard size UPS package car uses Freightliner or Ford F59 stripped chassis so it has GVWR of 16,000 to 26,000 according to Ford's website. So there is a substantial difference between the package car and this GM van. 

 

Here is a visual comparison of the sizes. The photos are not taken from the same distance so it's not exact comparison but you can see GM's new van is closer in size to Sprinter than the package car. Also single rear wheel and 6-lug hubs indicates that it is more in common with Transit/Sprinter than the stripped chassis vans.

 

1024px-UPSvanOntario.JPG

 

1024px-FedEx_Ground_delivery_van,_Jul_15

 

brightdrop-ev600-with-fedex-express-bran

 

FedEx_Express_Mercedes_Sprinter_Memphis_

 

Edited by bzcat
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16 minutes ago, bzcat said:

 

 

GM said the GVWR is under 10,000 lbs so that puts it in Class 2b, same as Transit 250, Sprinter, Promaster 2500 etc. GM is able to achieve 600 cubic feet of cargo volume by maximizing the cargo area. The competing Class 2b vans max out at around 500 cubic feet due to the engine compartment taking up to 25% of the length, and probably higher load floor to make room for drive shaft and gas tank.

chassis vans.

 


Im talking about overall size and cargo volume not weight or payload.

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On 1/12/2021 at 2:56 PM, Harley Lover said:

 

Take note of the claimed range too; we've noted in prior conversations about Transit EV and Sprinter that their lower range (low 100's in Transit IIRC) are fine in the EU and probably okay in the U.S. too based on expected usage. My question is what is driving the GM choice to offer so much more range? Do they have a significant cost advantage with Ultium batteries? 


GM said the EV's launching this year have a 30% reduction in battery cost from the Bolt today, gen 2 that is under development has another 30% reduction. 

 

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6 hours ago, akirby said:


Im talking about overall size and cargo volume not weight or payload.

 

Fair enough but I don't think there is anything like it on the market right now, at least from an OEM solution perspective. No Class 2b van or cutaway can carry this much volume ~600 cubic feet.

 

Fleet operators will only care that this is a Class 2b when they crunch the numbers on operating costs. 

 

Also important point someone already raised... we don't know the cost yet. That has important ramification on the total lifetime cost. Transit EV may still win the battle when you factor in acquisition cost. 

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1 hour ago, jasonj80 said:

Currently they are just modified versions of current platforms. Why they have some short comings which should be fixed in future generations.

 

Thanks for confirming jasonj80. I like Ford's strategy with F-150 Lightning and eTransit, in which compromised but still "good enough" products are brought to market before competitors like GM, with BEV-optimized versions to follow. As Ford always points out in its monthly sales releases, F-150 Lightning and eTransit both have a commanding lead for sales in their respective categories nowadays.

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6 hours ago, jasonj80 said:


Currently they are just modified versions of current platforms. Why they have some short comings which should be fixed in future generations.


But very heavily modified versions of current platforms.  They did more than just add batteries.

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1 hour ago, akirby said:

But very heavily modified versions of current platforms.  They did more than just add batteries.

 

With F-150 Lightning and eTransit, Ford did a great job adapting existing ICE powered vehicles and turning them into the best versions of those models ever made despite their shortcomings. But as jasonj80 implied, it's a stopgap.

 

Long term, the importance of having dedicated BEV platforms relates to profitability. The only way Ford can attain Jim Farley's 10% EBIT goal is to have BEV that are totally different from ICE vehicles in terms of design, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing.

 

I'm optimistic that a Ford Pro business unit with 100% electric vehicles and associated software and services will compete very well with GM's Brightdrop.

 

Edited by rperez817
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On 12/5/2022 at 2:26 PM, rperez817 said:

Brightdrop Zevo 600 mass production starts next month at the CAMI plant in Ontario, Canada. GM also announced that DHL Express Canada will be its first non U.S. customer for these vans. BrightDrop adds DHL Express as EV customer, announces start of production at CAMI plant | Modern Shipper (freightwaves.com)

 

BrightDrop-DHL-Zevo-600.jpg 


Didn’t DHL just place an order for etransits too?

 

I like the look of the brightdrops.  Would make a cool RV. 

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On 12/5/2022 at 3:26 PM, rperez817 said:

Brightdrop Zevo 600 mass production starts next month at the CAMI plant in Ontario, Canada. GM also announced that DHL Express Canada will be its first non U.S. customer for these vans. BrightDrop adds DHL Express as EV customer, announces start of production at CAMI plant | Modern Shipper (freightwaves.com)

 

BrightDrop-DHL-Zevo-600.jpg 


the way the black plastic doesn’t continue on the door - yet it has an indentation for separation - is killing my OCD lol

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