Ryder deploys first of 4,000 BrightDrop electric vehicles in rental fleet

Nearly six months after announcing a major order from GM’s BrightDrop, equipment and rental car specialist Ryder is deploying its first fleet of electric pickup trucks across the United States. The deployment begins Ryder’s process of adding 4,000 BrightDrop EVs to its fleet over the next two years.

Ryder System, Inc. ($R) is a logistics and transportation company whose large fleet of commercial vehicles you’ve probably seen on the road somewhere in North America. In addition to warehousing and distribution, last-mile transportation, and freight brokerage, Ryder offers commercial vehicle leasing and leasing.

The company currently manages a fleet of 260,000 commercial vehicles, providing services in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Like GM’s last-mile electric distribution division, BrightDrop is also a US-based company, although its electric vehicles are currently built at GM’s CAMI facility in Ingersoll, Ontario.

BrightDrop has since delivered its Zevo 600 passenger vehicles to customers in Canada such as FedEx Express and has recently expanded to Mexico as well. Last April, BrightDrop landed another major commercial customer in Ryder, who committed to ordering 4,000 electric vehicles.

Today, the first of these commercial vehicles has begun operating in four major US metropolitan areas and is now available for rent.

BrightDrop electric vans are now available to rent from Ryder

According to update from Ryder, his first wave of BrightDrop Zevo 600 electric appliances have been deployed in its rental fleet, and started its order of 200 EVs ordered this year. Ryder and BrightDrop aren’t currently sharing how many cars are in the works, but it’s a welcome step to have all 4,000 on order by the end of 2025.

The Ryder branded Zevo 600s seen above are now available for rent in Santa Fe Springs, California, Hayward, California, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Long Island City, New York. To introduce local customers to its new commercial EV technology, Ryder has hosted a series of “Ride and Drive” events featuring BrightDrop electric vans and charging piles from ChargePoint.

The Zevo 600 offers a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge and can offer a payload capacity of between 1,460 and 2,450 pounds. Its carrying capacity is 615 cubic feet. Electric vehicles will work as part of the transport specialists RyderElectric+ service, which offers customers a turnkey solution to use all electricity, provide consultants, vehicles, payment infrastructure, and maintenance for one price. Ryder’s president of fleet management solutions, Tom Haven’s spoke to today’s EV move for the company:

Working with companies like BrightDrop puts Ryder at the forefront of identifying and testing cutting-edge automotive technology, and we’re excited to incorporate these new EVs into our fleet. Through our partnerships with technology providers and equipment manufacturers, Ryder can provide commercial fleet management solutions that drive sustainability and operational goals for our customers.

Ryder has already placed a five-phase plan to finally electrify its entire fleet and move a step closer to this first electric vehicle delivery from BrightDrop. With thousands more EVs expected to arrive from CAMI through 2025, we’re sure to see many more Zevo 600s strapped to Ryder red rental lots soon… as long as GM can keep up production, that is.