Earlier this month, General Motors announced BrightDrop, a new business venture aimed at providing all-electric transportation solutions for the commercial delivery space, plus commercial software and services as well. One of the first products to market will be the BrightDrop EV600, a light commercial van offering 250 miles of range thanks to GM’s Ultium battery and drive motor technology. In anticipation of the arrival of the EV600 later this year, we’re looking at how the new electrically powered van stacks up against the internal-combustion-powered competition in the following GM Authority Capacity Comparison.
Previously, we compared the EV600 against the competition in terms of the exterior dimensions. In this comparison, we will get under the skin with three crucial specs for the segment, including Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), cargo space, and payload.
Let’s start with the cargo specs. According to the latest figures, the BrightDrop EV600 boasts 600 cubic feet of cargo room, making it the most capacious entry included in this comparison. In fact, among the 56 model configurations examined here, the next closest rivals are the 2021 Ford Transit T-250 High Roof Extended and 2021 Ford Transit T-350 High Roof Extended, both of which offer 536.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Indeed, it would appear as though the packaging benefits of an all-electric powertrain results in loads of space inside the vehicle.
That said, there are drawbacks as well, as evidenced when looking at the payload specs. Among the vehicles examined here, the BrightDrop EV600 offers the worst payload rating of the bunch at 2,200 pounds. The next-worse payload rating goes to the 2021 Nissan NV1500 at 2,730 pounds, while the highest payload rating in this comparison goes to the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 at 6,735 pounds.
The payload ratings are better understood when put into context with the GVWR specs, where the BrightDrop EV600 sits in the middle of the pack with a GVWR of 9,990 pounds, placing it in the Class 2 light truck category. Meanwhile, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 has the highest GVWR in this comparison at 12,125 pounds, while the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500, Nissan NV1500, and Ram ProMaster 1500 tie for lowest GVWR at 8,550 pounds.
| GVWR (lbs.) | Cargo Space (cu. ft.) | Payload (lbs.) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 BrightDrop EV600 | 9,990 | 600.0 | 2,200 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana 2500 | 8,600 | 239.7 | 3,247 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana 2500 | 8,600 | 284.4 | 3,013 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana 3500 | 9,600 | 239.7 | 4,120 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana 3500 | 9,600 | 284.4 | 3,899 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-150 Low Roof | 8,670 | 280.9 | 3,630 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-150 Medium Roof | 8,670 | 358.7 | 3,500 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-150 Low Roof | 8,670 | 311.9 | 3,530 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-150 Medium Roof | 8,670 | 400.5 | 3,380 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-250 Low Roof | 9,070 | 280.9 | 4,030 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-250 Medium Roof | 9,070 | 358.7 | 3,900 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-250 Low Roof | 9,070 | 311.9 | 3,930 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-250 Medium Roof | 9,070 | 400.5 | 3,780 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-250 High Roof | 9,070 | 453.4 | 3,680 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-250 High Roof Extended | 9,070 | 536.4 | 3,480 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 Low Roof | 9,500 | 280.9 | 4,460 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 Medium Roof | 9,500 | 358.7 | 4,330 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 Low Roof | 9,500 | 311.9 | 4,360 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 Medium Roof | 9,500 | 400.5 | 4,210 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 High Roof | 9,500 | 453.4 | 4,110 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 High Roof Extended | 9,500 | 536.4 | 3,910 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 HD High Roof Extended | 9,900 | 536.4 | 4,090 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 HD High Roof Extended | 9,950 | 536.4 | 4,060 |
| 2021 Ford Transit T-350 HD High Roof Extended | 10,360 | 536.4 | 4,550 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | 8,550 | 319.0 | 3,854 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 High Roof | 8,550 | 372.8 | 3,766 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | 9,050 | 319.0 | 4,354 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 High Roof | 9,050 | 372.8 | 4,266 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 High Roof | 9,050 | 488.1 | 3,935 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 High Roof Extended | 9,050 | 532.6 | 3,605 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 High Roof | 9,990 | 328.5 | 4,522 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 High Roof | 9,990 | 469.2 | 4,279 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 High Roof Extended | 9,990 | 512.1 | 4,191 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500XD | 11,030 | 281.1 | 5,684 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500XD High Roof | 11,030 | 328.5 | 5,595 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500XD High Roof | 11,030 | 430.1 | 5,243 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500XD High Roof Extended | 11,030 | 512.1 | 5,154 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 | 12,125 | 281.1 | 6,735 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 High Roof | 12,125 | 328.5 | 6,647 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 High Roof | 12,125 | 430.1 | 6,294 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 High Roof Extended | 12,125 | 469.4 | 6,206 |
| 2021 Nissan NV1500 | 8,550 | 234.1 | 2,730 |
| 2021 Nissan NV2500 | 9,100 | 234.1 | 3,280 |
| 2021 Nissan NV2500 High Roof | 9,100 | 323.1 | 3,110 |
| 2021 Nissan NV3500 | 9,900 | 234.1 | 3,720 |
| 2021 Nissan NV3500 High Roof | 9,900 | 323.1 | 3,550 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 1500 | 8,550 | 259.0 | 4,000 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 1500 | 8,550 | 304.0 | 3,890 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 1500 High Roof | 8,550 | 353.0 | 3,760 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500 | 8,900 | 304.0 | 4,260 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500 High Roof | 8,900 | 353.0 | 4,130 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500 High Roof | 8,900 | 420.0 | 4,010 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 3500 | 9,350 | 304.0 | 4,680 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 3500 High Roof | 9,350 | 353.0 | 4,550 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 3500 High Roof | 9,350 | 420.0 | 4,430 |
| 2021 Ram ProMaster 3500 High Roof Extended | 9,350 | 463.0 | 4,330 |
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Comments
Two things, first; are we positive that we know for sure 2200 lbs figure is absolute max or it is just the amount the vehicle can achieve 250 mile range with. If so it means you can load over that capacity but you lose some range which in my mind it’s ok ,because 250 mile range for a delivery truck is plenty because average in city mileage for delivery truck for 50 to 80 miles.
But if not, i think it’s still not much of a problem for delivery trucks especially for cargo carriers because today’s day and age most of the stuff they deliver are light in weight internet shopping items in filled puffy boxes, so as long as some fitness junkie orders twenty sets of barbell weight plate sets in one go you’ll be fine anyway.
Exactly what I was thinking….I’m sure as they are working with FedEx and they know where the volume need is at and then other more capable (payload) will become available later on. No other company on that list has only one offering.