General Motors and its new company, BrightDrop, announced the Ultium Charge 360 fleet charging service. Created and wholly owned by GM, BrightDrop reimagines commercial delivery as well as logistics for an all-electric future. The goal is to help make the switch to electric seamless for fleets, connecting them with services, features, and resources.
Additionally, the Ultium Charge 360 fleet service will be one of the industry’s most holistic solutions offering, where available:
- Fleet as well as facility management tools
- Integration with both GM’s fleet management solution, OnStar Vehicle Insights, and the BrightDrop fleet and asset management platform
- Support for a wide range of fleet segments, including delivery, sales, utilities, and motor pool
ON THE ROAD TO ELECTRIFICATION
The comprehensive solution will help fleet customers identify providers, tools, and solutions required to deploy and operate charging infrastructure.
Additionally, Ultium Charge 360’s holistic approach to charging will help support home charging; it will also help provide drivers access to more than 60,000 public places to charge while en route. As part of the solution, GM works with preferred providers, including four depot infrastructure providers—eTransEnergy, a Duke Energy company; EVgo; In-Charge Energy; and Schneider Electric. GM will also expand existing commercial relationships with Qmerit for home charging and EVgo for public and depot charging. This will provide fleet owners the flexibility to choose a charging solution that best suits their needs.
“Fleets have a significant impact on the transition to EVs and by expanding Ultium Charge 360 to our fleet customers, GM aims to be a significant industry leader to advance fleet EV adoption at scale and accelerate our goal of reaching 1 million EV sales globally by 2025,” says Ed Peper, US vice president, GM Fleet. “Fleet electrification is an important element of our growth strategy, and we will leverage our leadership and expertise in this space to support customers at home, at depots, and in public with our suite of providers.”
A CUSTOMER-CENTRIC SOLUTION
Through Ultium Charge 360, GM Fleet, OnStar Business Solutions (where available), and BrightDrop customers can customize plans. They will also be able to select from preferred providers for their fleet electrification needs in the US and Canada. Further, eTransEnergy, EVgo, In-Charge Energy and Schneider Electric will offer access to on-the-go and depot charging. Customers can also leverage GM’s existing work with Qmerit to help provide in-home installations for fleet drivers. As a result, charging will be accessible for a range of fleet applications.
“Through Ultium Charge 360, BrightDrop fleet operators will be able to access tools and resources that will help accelerate their transition to sustainable all-electric delivery fleets,” said Travis Katz, president and CEO, BrightDrop. “This is a turning point for our industry. Our commercial delivery customers are seeking innovative approaches to lower their operating costs as they electrify their fleets. Ultium Charge 360 is the latest innovation to enable BrightDrop, together with our customers, to help decarbonize the last mile.”
Alex Keros, GM lead architect, EV Infrastructure, says soon fleets will have more confidence and convenience for electrifying their fleet. He adds that expanding charging infrastructure is a critical part of working toward an all-electric future. And with GM’s providers, Keros expects GM to offer charging, software, and product solutions that fit the customers’ needs.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
The new Ultium Charge 360 fleet solution combines GM fleet and charging expertise with the services of the below providers.
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eTransEnergy
“We are pleased GM has included eTransEnergy among its preferred providers to help customers navigate the journey of fleet electrification,” says Greg Fields, eTransEnergy vice president. “As a Duke Energy company, eTransEnergy offers a lower-risk solution for commercial fleets to help realize the benefits of reduced emissions, better performance, and lower operating costs.”
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EVgo
“(We are) excited to expand our EV collaboration with GM into our Fleet Solutions offering, providing a seamless and convenient, reliable charging experience for fleet operators looking to electrify,” states Jonathan Levy, chief commercial officer at EVgo. “EVgo is committed to providing fleet operators with a diverse portfolio of L2 and fast-charging options, including dedicated depots and public charging facilities, to speed the transition and maximize the benefits of electrification.”
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In-Charge Energy
“We are incredibly proud to play an important role in GM’s fleet electrification and we’re excited to support the Ultium Charge 360 program,” says Cameron Funk, CEO of In-Charge Energy. “While we are solely focused on fleet electrification at In-Charge, we recognize the larger impact of a global brand like GM actually executing on a truly all-inclusive commitment to an electrified future and applaud their dedication. Commercial fleet turnover is a big part of that future, not just passenger vehicles.”
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Schneider Electric
“We are proud to be a GM preferred provider, facilitating their commitment to electrification and providing a seamless experience for their fleet customers. As the most sustainable company in the world, we share their commitment to make the most of our energy resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all,” says Annette Clayton, CEO and president, Schneider Electric North America. “We are excited to offer our unique power systems expertise, allowing us to provide fleet customers with a comprehensive, end-to-end EV infrastructure solution incorporating utility rate negotiation and modeling, software integration, and a cybersecurity architecture, all from a single provider.”
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Qmerit
“The GM Fleet business footprint is really like no other in the industry and supporting their customers through the electrification journey is a privilege for Qmerit,” says Tracy K. Price, chairman and CEO of Qmerit. “We look forward to adding value to their comprehensive offerings for both small and large fleets in North America.”
Finally, Ultium Charge 360 builds on the technology that is helping to power GM’s EV future—the Ultium Platform. Ultium Charge 360 for fleets is an example of GM driving acceleration and adoption of fleet electrification. This unlocks new growth opportunities for the company. Fleet customers can begin working with preferred providers today.
Find out more, visit www.gm.com.
