Ryder System, Inc. announced its plan to introduce 4,000 BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric vans to its lease and rental fleet through 2025. The first 200 vans will be ordered this year. According to a release, this announcement underscores the company’s ongoing efforts to meet rising demand across the transportation and logistics industries for commercial electric vehicles (EVs). 

The expanded offering will enable Ryder customers to test and broaden their EV footprint, enhance the driver experience, and accelerate their sustainability initiatives.

“We aim to make fleet electrification as seamless as possible by investing in alternative vehicle solutions to offer sustainable and economic advantages for our customers,” said Tom Havens, president of fleet management solutions for Ryder. “Ryder continues to be at the forefront of identifying advanced and emerging vehicle technology by serving as an extended research and development arm for its customers.”

Why Did Ryder Select BrightDrop? 

Ryder plans to deploy model-year 2023 Zevo 600 electric vans in its rental fleet in California, Dallas-Fort Worth, and New York City later this year. The new 2024 Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 models for lease and rental customers are expected to be available as early as summer 2023 and into the first quarter of 2024.

BrightDrop’s electric vans offer the benefits of an electric powertrain with ample cargo space. Just a few of the additional fleet benefits provided by the BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric vans include: 

• Boasts a range of up to 250 miles on a full charge.

• Can support a payload of about 2,000 to 3,400 lbs. 

• Cargo capacity of over 600 cubic feet (Zevo 600).

• Cargo capacity of over 400 cubic feet (Zevo 400).

“Electrifying lease and rental vehicles can significantly impact transportation-related emissions, and our goal is to make that switch as easy and enticing as possible for our customers,” said Steve Hornyak, chief commercial officer for BrightDrop. “Ryder’s plan to introduce 4,000 of our electric vans to their fleet shows their commitment to sustainable options for customers and their confidence that BrightDrop will help them deliver on that.”