The goal was to create a “solution that provides customers with flexibility and innovation in a commercial-grade, ready-for-work product,” according to The Shyft Group president and CEO, Daryl Adams. First revealed at Work Truck Week 2023 this past March, the Blue Arc Class 5 EV offers a vast number of end-uses with a capable range and payload for vocational needs.
The show vehicle was configured for a landscape operation with a cab large enough to carry a crew and a lightweight aluminum dump body atop a Class 5 electric chassis. It also included a stow-away desk along with several charging ports and outlets for any mobile workstation needs. But that’s just one configuration. As stated before, the Blue Arc Class 5 was designed for flexibility. Although the show vehicle was configured for landscape, that doesn’t mean it isn’t perfect for other uses. When asked which application the Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab would best be suited for, Adams responded that it’s impossible to say because of the flexibility in the body styles available with the EV.
WORK-DRIVEN DESIGN
Engineers designed the Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab EV using The Shyft Group’s “Work-Driven Design” process. This process, first developed by the Utilimaster brand and now deployed across all Shyft brands, encompasses the “rigorous and intentional design that goes into every detail, from the position of door handles to the height of the cargo deck off the ground,” Adams explains.
The Work-Driven Design process takes place through spending time with drivers and collecting and analyzing data. This process allows The Shyft Group to design highly customizable vehicles with business-specific features, details, and entire cargo management systems.
“All the deep learnings we have had from doing Work-Driven Design can be seen in our vehicle designs,” Adams says. “Just one example on the Class 5 EV Crew Cab is the weather-protected steps that retract to stay clean and low to reduce risk of fall or injury.”
BLUE ARC POWER
If hearing “electric vehicle” makes you think less power, think again. With the Blue Arc Class 5 All-Electric Crew Cab, fleet owners will have the power and payload capacity for serious workloads. The vehicle’s lightweight, aluminum body was built for multiple applications. These include construction, snow removal, landscaping, municipalities, trades, and more.
The Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab was built from the ground up, designed for vocational work with zero emissions. The EV features a purpose-built, all-electric chassis, a commercial-grade e-axle, and as mentioned above, a lightweight, aluminum and composite cab. The Class 5 Crew Cab features modular, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery packs that deliver a range of more than 200 miles and can reach a top speed of 75 mph. The battery packs can charge in 2 to 6 hours with Level 2 and DC fast charging. And if range anxiety is a concern, the Blue Arc Class 5 is available with a 450-Wh integrated solar roof package. Further, this vehicle has a payload capacity of 6,000 to 10,000 lbs, so get ready to haul.
And standing behind its product, Blue Arc backs its Class 5 Crew Cab with a six-year or 180,000-mile battery warranty. The company also plans to offer battery upgrades and buyback programs. Other ways Blue Arc will support its customers are through real-time status updates, in-stock EV parts, factory-trained EV technicians, VMRS codes, nationwide distribution centers, and a dedicated product support team.
OPERATOR COMFORT
One of the most interesting aspects of the Blue Arc Class 5 is its intelligently designed crew cab. This spacious interior is 88.5-inches wide and 85-inches high—honestly, the interior somewhat resembles that of a passenger van. In fact, the cab even features a sliding door, adding a layer of safety when operators are using the door near busy sidewalks or city streets. The steps to get inside the vehicle are also similar to those found in passenger vans. The steps are nestled underneath the vehicle, completely protected from the elements. Because of the design of the cab, operators will feel free to stand up in the vehicle when parked and have a more comfortable ingress and egress without worrying about hitting their head, slipping, or opening the door into traffic.
But not only is the cab safe and tall enough to keep operators and crew comfortable when getting in and out, it’s also comfortable to ride in. The Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab features enough seating for a crew of six (including the driver), and a jump seat on the driver’s side allows crews to accommodate one more when in a pinch.
But the intelligence of the design goes further than simply getting in and out of the vehicle and accommodating more crew members. The engineers at Blue Arc designed the Class 5 Crew Cab with a pull-down table and monitor to be used as a workstation. With the added convenience of the workstation, the Blue Arc Class 5 can support the use of laptops, tablets, handheld devices, phone calls, and more. All in all, the Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab was designed for teamwork. However, Blue Arc offers multiple cab layouts depending on the needs of the fleet, whether each team has multiple members or just one.
BLUE ARC SAFETY
The Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab was purpose-built for the comfort of a crew, but what good is comfort if the crew isn’t safe? That’s why Blue Arc included: a 360-degree camera with a 12-inch, high-definition display monitor; a front camera integrated into the vehicle’s AeroCap (the part of the roof above the windshield); a tire pressure monitor; front parking sensors; and blind spot detection. Best of all, Adams says these features will be standard in every Blue Arc EV when the company goes into production with the electric delivery vehicles later this year.
FLEXIBLE & EFFICIENT
Designed after spending time observing drivers, hearing their thoughts, and collecting and analyzing data, the Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab delivers on optimum efficiency, whether in delivery, landscape, construction, or other applications. The flexible vehicle offers custom features, like the stow-away desk, for example, that allow owners to build a fleet vehicle that meets all their needs. After all, it shouldn’t be the fleet vehicle that limits the number of the crew, the amount that can be hauled, or equipment being stored. The fleet vehicle should be the workhorse that helps the crew get their job done in the most efficient way possible—just the way the Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab EV was designed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Find out more about the Blue Arc Class 5 Crew Cab EV, visit www.bluearcev.com.
