Talk:BrightDrop

Lead

• Update the infobox from {{infobox brand}} to {{infobox company}} to incorporate the "Key people", "Industry" and "Products" parameters. This is mocked up at right (sans logo since non-free files are only permitted in articles).

• Also in infobox, update "type" from "Electric commercial vehicle marque" to "Electric commercial delivery technology company" (also mocked up at right).

• Update

The business offers connected products targeting last mile delivery customers - including electric vehicles, ePallets, and a cloud-based software solution.^[1]

to

The business offers a system of connected products targeting first- and last-mile delivery customers – including light commercial electric vehicles, ePallets, and cloud-based software.^[2]

Just some basic punctuation fixes and clarifications, avoiding WP:SOLUTION, adding details from the source, and fleshing out and naming the ref.

@MaryGaulke: The infobox and lead have been updated with two minor edits in the lead (added the word brand to sentence 1, and replaced an em dash with a comma). I will continue working on this request. Heartmusic678 (talk) 16:16, 28 May 2021 (UTC)Heartmusic678 @MaryGaulke: The History, Products and Operations sections are now published. Thank you. Heartmusic678 (talk) 11:58, 31 May 2021 (UTC)Heartmusic678

History

New section:

BrightDrop, initially called Smart Cargo,^[3] was one of the first businesses launched by GM's Global Innovation team incubator, headed by engineer Pam Fletcher.^[4] It began development in September 2019. By February 2020, Smart Cargo had evolved to combine GM's electric van plans with development of software- and data-driven services for delivery businesses. Later that year, GM recruited Travis Katz to become president and CEO of BrightDrop.^[3] Previously, Katz had held executive roles at Redpoint Ventures, Skyscanner, and MySpace; he was also CEO and co-founder of Trip.com.^[5]

GM CEO Mary Barra introduced the BrightDrop brand as part of her address at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2021.^[6] After the announcement, GM's stock reached its highest price since its initial public offering in 2010.^[7]

Products

New section:

Further information: BrightDrop EV600

BrightDrop's first two products are the EV600 electric van and EP1 electric pallet.^[8] The EV600 is powered by GM's Ultium battery platform^[9] and is purpose-built for the delivery of goods and services over long distances.^[10] It has a built-in security system^[2][11] and a range of 250 miles per charge.^[7] Its name is a play on its 600 cubic feet of cargo space.^[12]

The EP1 can carry up to 23 cubic feet^[13] and 200 pounds.^[12] It has a built-in electric motor^[2] to move at a speed of up to 3 miles per hour, adjusting to the walking speed of its operator.^[14] It helps delivery workers move goods over short distances, like from a van to a customer's front door.^[8] It has adjustable shelves and doors that can be remotely locked and unlocked.^[2] In a pilot program with FedEx, couriers were able to handle 25% more packages per day with the EP1^[10] and experienced less physical strain.^[14]

The company also has a cloud-based software platform accessible by web or mobile app.^[2] Its software can monitor vehicle locations^[11] and battery charges,^[15] manage vehicles remotely, predict maintenance needs,^[8] and optimize routes.^[16]

Operations

New section:

BrightDrop is developing electric vans, related hardware, support services and software for use by commercial delivery firms.^[3] It is part of a larger initiative at GM to have an all-electric lineup of vehicles by 2035.^[8] BrightDrop's first customer is FedEx,^[5] which placed an initial order for 500 EV600 vehicles.^[6][17] Merchants Fleet, a fleet management company, is slated to purchase an additional 12,600 EV600s starting in 2023.^[18][19]

GM announced in January 2021 that its CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, would manufacture the EV600,^[20] making it Canada's first large-scale auto plant converted to produce electric delivery vehicles.^[21] GM planned to invest $800 million in the plant for this purpose.^[22]

Thanks for your time! Mary Gaulke (talk) 18:46, 19 May 2021 (UTC)