The Shyft Group, Inc., a North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets, announced the completed testing as well a certification from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Blue Arc™ EV Solutions Class 3, 4, and 5 electric delivery vehicles.
EPA test results revealed the Blue Arc Class 3 all-electric delivery vehicle can achieve up to a 200-mile range. This is based on the EPA cycle test with a 165kwh battery pack. This provides customers with a driving range that can handle, and in many cases exceed, a daily last-mile delivery route.
Certification from the EPA represents an important milestone that helps clear the way for Shyft’s Blue Arc vehicles to start production and be sold across the US. Shyft expects final approval from the California Air Resources Board in the near term. Additionally, Shyft recently announced a $16-million investment at the company’s Charlotte, Michigan, campus to begin assembly of the electric vehicles in the second half of 2023. An initial pre-order for 2,000 of the all-electric vehicles was placed by Randy Marion Dealer Group.
CHANGING THE GAME
CEO Daryl Adams says a range of 200 miles changes the game and opens new possibilities for electrifying last-mile delivery. He says Blue Arc’s approach was to focus on the product development and engineering of the EVs, first. Then, as the customers have taken notice, and he says Blue Arc expects to secure additional contracts in the future.
Additionally, the Blue Arc Class 3 van received a 45 MPGe combined city/highway rating from the EPA. This means Blue Arc EVs can provide customers with more cargo carrying capacity and more range at the same time. The Blue Arc engineering team achieves these results partially through optimizing the chassis and lightweighting the body. This creates an efficient and high-performing electric delivery vehicle.
In the transition to electrified commercial vehicle fleets, Blue Arc EV Solutions brings an edge to the competition. The brand has nearly 50 years’ experience in chassis and truck design and manufacturing as part of The Shyft Group.
Find out more, visit www.theshyftgroup.com.
