Blue Arc™ EV Solutions, part of The Shyft Group, debuted in March with the industry-first commercial grade purpose-built EV chassis; a fully reimagined from the ground up all-electric Class 3 delivery walk-in van; and a fully portable, remote-controlled charging station, the Power Cube™. Recently, Shyft announced the first pre-order for its all-electric Class 3, 4, and 5 walk-in delivery vans. The order comes from Randy Marion Automotive Group, one of the largest dealer groups in the Carolinas.
“I am extremely proud of the work the Shyft team has done positioning Blue Arc EV Solutions to meet customer needs,” Shyft CEO Daryl Adams says. “From the beginning just 14 short months ago, we’ve been confident in our EV commercial vehicle design because we have served last-mile delivery customers for nearly 50 years. We’ve hit all of our critical development milestones and most recently we’ve validated that our range will meet our customers’ expectations; and this shows not only do we know what they need, we are delivering it.”
CHARGING DOWN THE ROAD
With Shyft’s existing coast-to-coast manufacturing and service infrastructure, it is primed to deliver EV solutions at scale. Following receipt of government approvals by this winter, Shyft expects to finalize the purchase order with Randy Marion. It expects to begin production in the Midwest and start delivery to Randy Marion in mid-2023. Fleet customers will be able to pre-order online or at the dealerships starting in September.
“Our long history working with Shyft through its Utilimaster brand and the overwhelmingly positive response to the Blue Arc Class 3 all-electric delivery walk-in van give us great confidence in the entire Blue Arc line-up, the Class 3 and 4, as well as the Class 5 that is in development now,” says Brad Sigmon, vice president of sales at Randy Marion Automotive Group. “The commercial grade features from Shyft, engineered with first-hand knowledge of last-mile delivery, are a true differentiator versus the other EV options.”
THE BLUE ARC EV
Leveraging a scalable design, the full Blue Arc EV portfolio is available in Class 3 to 5 walk-in van configurations. Body length options range from 12 to 22 feet. Designed for high-frequency, last-mile delivery fleets, lithium-ion battery packs power these vehicles. The packs can deliver 150-mile range at 50% payload in parcel mode with optional extended range packs available. In addition, multiple chassis wheelbase options at 178-inch, 190-inch, 208-inch, and 230-inch will support different applications. With these options, Shyft customers can maximize productivity and minimize cost of ownership, including fuel and maintenance costs.
Using insights from Shyft’s Work-Driven Design™ process, these electric vans feature a spacious cargo area. Vocational packages specifically designed for functionality are also available with the van. The use of lightweight aluminum and composite body design provide higher durability against scratches and dents while supporting modular repair. The delivery van also features an integrated solar roof package for auxiliary system power. This makes it a viable option for extreme weather locations.
With a focus on the end user, Blue Arc integrates the latest in proven vehicle and driver safety technology. This technology includes 360-degree cameras, large in-dash HD camera displays, and proximity sensors as well as keyless and automated entry. Designed for comfort and productivity, the van is easy to drive and offers ease of entry/exit for multi-stop delivery routes.
FROM VISION TO REALITY
“It’s incredible, but not a surprise with our team, that one year ago we were just opening our new Innovation Center in Plymouth to work on our EV solutions,” says Eric Fisher, senior vice president and general manager, Shyft Innovations. “Now we are making that vision a reality for our customers with pre-orders for not only the Class 3 and 4, but also the Class 5 electric vehicle. I am very pleased to work with such an outstanding dealer group like Randy Marion. They know the market well and quickly saw our EV designs will deliver the speed, efficiency, and positive impact to our customers’ bottom line needed to make this a success for all.”
Find out more, visit www.theshyftgroup.com.
