GM Authority has learned more details about the power performance and drivetrain of GM’s all-electric BrightDrop Zevo 600 commercial van from representatives within the BrightDrop subsidiary.
The BrightDrop Zevo 600 is equipped with two 255 kW Ultium Drive motors, one in the front providing motivation to both front wheels and one at the rear, creating an all-wheel drivetrain.
Ordinarily, a 255 kWh Ultium Drive motor generates the equivalent of 342 horsepower. However, BrightDrop says it has reduced the output of the motors found in the BrightDrop Zevo 600 so that each drive unit develops 225 kW or 302 horsepower, along with 390 pound-feet of torque.
The reduced power output of the motors used in the Zevo 600 increases their durability, a more important trait for a commercial propulsion unit than achieving maximum performance. BrightDrop’s engineering team also pointed out that the output of the two motors does not stack in this application, according to a company representative.
The smaller BrightDrop Zevo 400 van, named for its 400 cubic feet of cargo capacity, is also expected to use a pair of 255 kW Ultium Drive motors arranged in an identical all-wheel drive configuration, but detuned to 225 kW each. Production of the Zevo 400 is scheduled to kick off in the fourth quarter of the 2023 calendar year.
The BrightDrop Zevo 600 is GM’s fastest-built vehicle ever, taken from the initial concept to full commercialization in just 20 months. The electric van’s full-scale production started in December 2022, with the first 500 units built at the retooled GM CAMI Assembly plant in Canada shipped to commercial customers in early April 2023. The 2023 BrightDrop Zevo 600 sold out, but BrightDrop is accepting orders for the 2024 model year.
As a reminder, the BrightDrop Zevo 600 offers a 600 cubic-foot cargo capacity and provides a 250-mile range on a single battery charge. GM estimates it can carry a maximum cargo payload of 2,200 pounds. The Zevo 600 EV’s GVWR is 9,990 pounds, making it operable by drivers without the special license often required for driving vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or more. Safety technology includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Front and Rear Park Assist, and standard IntelliBeam LED headlamps.
Under the skin, the BrightDrop Zevo 600 uses Ultium battery technology for power and Ultium Drive motor technology for propulsion. The Zevo 600 is compatible with 120 kW DC fast charging or AC Level 2 11.5 kW charging and offers a peak recharging rate of 160 miles per hour.
Production of the Zevo 600 takes place at the GM CAMI Assembly plant in Canada.
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“The BrightDrop Zevo 600 is GM’s fastest-built vehicle ever, taken from the initial concept to full commercialization in just 20 months. “
That award goes to the Pontiac solistic. Which took 17 months from a fiberglass shell at the NAA show in 2004 to winning car of the year in early 2005.
That car also had soul unlike this box on wheels with a dewalt in it. The solistic was also being pushed by the head engineer behind it who was an advent enthusiast and wasn’t taking any of the normal corporate holdbacks that make things take a long time .
i dont think you realize that this is a commercial van…. which, when compared to its ICE equivalents (and im not only referring to only gm) has more soul for what it is. but who actually cares if a panel van has soul? its literally a blank canvas
Chevy expresses have plenty of soul. They last long enough that they get picked up for a couple hundred by blues bands and travel the country for years. Soul in the litteral sense 😎 also, when equipped with a V8, sound pretty good.
I like where the drive motors were essentially detuned for lower power to extend the life and reduce wear and tear. I find it very boring that every time an EV is talked about, it always mentioned how fast you can go from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Most drivers could not handle that power and it absolutely adds to wear and tear and reduces battery life.
Really, low payload and low range……….It doesn’t seem like a truck Person spec. these out???????
You can call it “low range” but it does hold the world record at 258 miles.
And an express with a 6.0 v8 will go double that on a single tank
Almost double, 192%
31 gallons @ 16 MPG (EPA hwy rating) = 496 miles.
Expresss fuel costs:
31 gal x todays avg pice $3.67 = $113.77 or $.23/mi
Zevo fuel cost:
178 KwH x $.04 KwH = $7.12 or $.0275/mi
Express goes further but at nearly 10 times the fuel cost per mile.
With some internal modifications, It almost looks adaptable to being an RV. I’m not enough of a handyman to pull that off, but I’m sure lots of people are, making the resale value interesting.
California citizens pay .26 cent kWh ?
What’s the avg miles per day those deliver
Trucks drive ?? Just buy dual rear wheels on the back and add more batteries? DMV driver license are not based on 10,000 lbs GVW ???
What did you do before ??? Sell ice cream to eskimos ? Do get me wrong , I want EV trucks & they have always been the most polluted !
Let’s make them right the first time ? With 30 years OJT & the best GM DEALERSHIP TRAINER &
Number two west of Mississippi in car & truck sales 96and 97
Last I read was FedEx was charging them every other day.
10000 gvw means anyone can drive without a CDL, but you need a DOT medical card. Your PCP can’t give you one…