By all accounts, the truck renting and leasing industry is at the forefront of the deployment of electric vehicles. Uniquely suited to field and maintain EVs, lease and rental businesses are leveraging their extensive networks to bring a growing number of vehicles to a wider range of truck users.

At Ryder System, Inc. a large step in the company’s efforts to meet the rising demand for and adoption of commercial electric vehicles came with the announcement that it would be adding 4,000 General Motors BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric vans to its lease and rental fleet through 2025. The initial Zevo 600 models are now in service at four facilities in California, Texas and New York.

“Ryder is at the forefront of identifying and testing advanced and emerging vehicle technologies, including the new BrightDrop EVs,” said Angie Hargesheimer, Ryder’s group director of accounts – advanced vehicle technology. “Through our strategic relationships with technology providers and equipment manufacturers, we can offer commercial fleets solutions that drive sustainability and help meet their operational goals.”

The BrightDrop Zevo 600 and Zevo 400 electric vans have a range of up to 250 miles on a full charge. Built by the recently absorbed General Motors wholly owned subsidiary, the EVs are powered by GM’s Ultium battery and all-electric propulsion system.

The Zevo models have a 9,990- or 11,000-lb. GVWR. The Zevo 400 has a 153-inch wheelbase, an 1,800-lb.-plus payload capacity and 412 cu. ft. of cargo space. The Zevo 600 has 615 cubic ft. of cargo volume and a 1,460-lb.-plus payload capacity on a 183-in. wheelbase.

Along with the BrightDrop Zevos, the Ryder lease and rental fleet includes Ford E-Transits, International eMV Series trucks, Lonestar (recently acquired by Kalmar) EVs with Dana’s electric powertrain, and Freightliner MT50e, eM2 and eCascadia models. The company has also reserved Tesla Semi tractors and continues to work with multiple OEMs to source new EV models.

For its growing fleet of BrightDrop electric vans, Ryder is installing charging infrastructure at its facilities from ChargePoint and InCharge, both providers of networked hardware and software solutions for charging EVs, and public charging stations.

Turnkey EV fleet solution

“Ryder’s aim is to continue to evaluate and provide advanced vehicle technology solutions to help customers seamlessly integrate EVs into their businesses,” Hargesheimer said. “That effort is concentrated in RyderElectric+, a new turnkey EV fleet solution that helps customers navigate the EV landscape by serving as a centralized source for vehicle and fleet management services.”

Hargesheimer says that RyderElectric+ partners with customers throughout the full journey of fleet electrification. Its electrification advisors provide for financing, leased and rented vehicles, charging and facility infrastructure solutions, and telematics and maintenance programs for commercial EVs.

The RyderElectric+ program’s electrification advisors help customers assess vehicle fit, estimate potential emissions reduction, and total cost impact, evaluate charging service requirements, provide guidance on availability of potential grants, and on building an EV transition roadmap. The solution also provides access to Ryder’s inventory of electric vehicles as well as the company’s national maintenance footprint, 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, telematics for fleet insights, and EV chargers at select locations, Ryder said.

“Our goal is to help make the integration of electric vehicles as seamless as possible for our customers through one provider at one cost,” Hargesheimer said. “By combining our expertise, advisory services and relationships with vehicle manufacturers and charging companies, as well as our integration with telematics providers, we help companies build and maintain an electric fleet that fits their needs.

“Ryder’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship extends into every aspect of its business,” Hargesheimer added. “As demand for and adoption of commercial EVs continues to accelerate across the transportation and logistics industries, we intend to give our customers an end-to-end solution for zero-emissions commercial fleet deployment.”