Ryder, one of the world’s largest transportation and logistics companies, has recently made a significant move towards sustainability by ordering 4,000 electric vans from General Motors’ BrightDrop brand. The first 200 vans will be delivered this year, with the rest arriving through 2025.
Ryder’s decision to add BrightDrop’s Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric delivery vans to its fleet is a promising step towards reducing its carbon footprint. These vans can carry up to 2,000-3,400 pounds of cargo and have a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge. The Zevo 600 has a cargo capacity of over 600 cubic feet, while the Zevo 400 can hold over 400 cubic feet of cargo.
See also: BrightDrop begins production Zevo 600 electric delivery vans in Canada
The charging options for these vans are also impressive, with the Zevo 600 being compatible with both 120kw DC Fast Charging and AC Level 2 11.5kw. Ryder plans to add the model year 2023 Zevo 600 electric vans to its rental fleet in California, Dallas-Fort Worth, and New York City later this year.
Although Ryder’s order of 4,000 electric vans is a positive step towards sustainability, the company still has a long way to go to meet its emissions reductions goals. Ryder manages nearly 260,000 commercial vehicles and, according to its 2021 corporate sustainability report, its emissions reductions goals are modest. The company aims to cut scope 1 emissions (its company-operated fleet) by 10% by 2024, over 2018 baseline; slash scope 2 emissions (company-operated facilities) by 30% by 2024, over 2018 baseline; and cut scope 3 emissions (downstream leased equipment) by 15% by 2024, over 2018 baseline.
See also: BrightDrop Zevo 600 and FedEx sets Guinness World Record with 258 miles on a single charge
Despite Ryder’s sustainability goals being less ambitious than some of its peers, the company’s decision to add 4,000 electric vans to its fleet is a promising sign that it is taking steps towards a more sustainable future. BrightDrop’s already impressive list of customers, which includes FedEx, Walmart, Hertz, and DHL Express, and its projected 50,000-unit annual volume capacity by 2025, is further evidence of the growing demand for electric vehicles in the commercial sector.
