2023 BrightDrop Zevo 600 Performance

The key performance indicator for the 2023 BrightDrop Zevo 600 won't be 0-60 mph sprint times or top speeds (although we think it could outpace traditional vans), but how much it can carry while still delivering decent acceleration and drivability. With a dual-motor AWD setup, the Zevo 600 produces 300 horses and 390 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough to hustle it up steep hills and allows it to carry a maximum payload of up to 2,440 lbs. That figure is down on what traditional ICE vans can carry, and the Ford e-transit can manage a far superior 3,880 pounds, but it's in the way the Zevo 600 carries that weight that makes the difference; it delivers its power smoothly and it rides comfortably, which makes it easy to get your goods to their destination in one piece.

The Zevo 600 is powered by a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that produces 300 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain is hooked up to a 165-kWh battery featuring 20 of GM's Ultium modules. The majority of the Zevo 600's power is sent to the rear wheels, which aids in adding traction, especially when the van is fully loaded. BrightDrop has been clever in calibrating the Zevo 600's power delivery: unlike EVs built for personal use and with more of a performance leaning, the Zevo 600 doesn't dump all of its torque from the get-go. Torque is fed linearly, which is precisely what you want when transporting fragile goods. This doesn't mean the Zevo is slow: it still pulls off the line with gusto and feels more responsive than traditional ICE vans.

Mileage is going to be an all-important factor for delivery vans like the Zevo 600. Companies will develop routes and schedules based on the effective range of the Zevo 600, and currently, it's quite impressive. With a fully charged 165-kWh battery pack, GM claims that the Zevo 600 can travel for up to 250 miles. It won't maintain that range when hauling the maximum payload, but the average distance covered by a delivery van in the US per day typically doesn't exceed 150 miles, so the Zevo 600 should be able to cover at least a full day of deliveries on a charge, unlike the Ford e-Transit with its claimed 126 miles of range. BrightDrop still has the option to add a larger battery pack, such as the 200-kWh pack in the Hummer EV, for an even better range. The Zevo 600 is capable of Level 3 fast charging at rates of 120 kW. At that rate, you should get 160 miles of range from an hour of charging.