GM and its new EV business unit are connecting Brightdrop and launching a fleet charging service aimed at ramping up its bets on electric commercial vehicles. GM’s new electronic architecture and batteries that are the basis of its future EV plans provide a number of tools that the branded Ultimate Charge 360 fleet charging service may require commercial delivery, sales, or motor pool business. It also includes an attempt to add home charging for drivers.
The charging service is the latest addition to BrightDrop, launched in January. The business unit offers commercial customers – from FedEx – an ecosystem of electronic and connected products. Brightdrop says it will start with two main products: an electric van called the EV 600, approximately 250 miles long, and a pod-like electric pallet dubbed EP1. BrightDrop is part of GM’s goal of reaching 1 million EV sales worldwide by 2025. GM and Brightdrop Duke Energy are launching charging services with eTranserrage, Envigo, In-Charge Energy, and Snyder Electric, four companies that can provide the infrastructure needed to keep commercial vans running properly.
On the home-charging front, GM said it would extend the existing agreement with Commit. The service is intended to provide equipment for fleet operators, which Alex Keros, JM’s chief architect, mentioned in a call to reporters on Thursday, is an important part of the market growth and a critical part of the electrification puzzle.
The company looked at “how to put together the right customer experience … … you know that when you think of fleets it’s a car that comes home with employees for example and helps us to charge those companies and employees in their homes.”
This service is intended to provide equipment to fleet operators. Alex Keros, GM’s top architect for EV Infrastructure, said in a call with a reporter on Thursday that it is part of market growth and an important part of the electrification puzzle. The company said, “How to combine the right customer experience… as you know, for example, when you think of fleets, these are cars that go home with staff so that these companies and staff can understand charging at home. I need help.”
