On Sept. 13, The Shyft Group announced pre-orders for its all-electric Class 3, 4, and 5 walk-in delivery vans from Randy Marion Automotive Group, a large dealer groups in the Carolinas.

Shyft already has coast-to-coast manufacturing and service infrastructure in place. Following receipt of government approvals this winter, Shyft expects to finalize a multi-year purchase order with Randy Marion for the pre-ordered walk-in vans, begin production in the Midwest, and start delivery in mid-2023, according to the announcement. Fleet customers will be able to pre-order online or at the dealerships starting in September.

Just last March, Blue Arc EV Solutions, a brand of The Shyft Group, debuted its commercial-grade EV chassis, as well as an all-electric Class 3 delivery walk-in van, and portable and remote-controlled charging station, dubbed "the Power Cube."

“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,” said Brad Sigmon, VP 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.”

Leveraging a scalable design, the full Blue Arc EV portfolio is available in Class 3 to 5 walk-in van configurations with body length options from 12 to 22 feet. Designed for high-frequency, last-mile delivery fleets, these vehicles are powered by lithium-ion battery packs that can deliver 150-mile range at 50% payload in parcel mode with optional extended range packs available. Multiple chassis wheelbase options at 178”, 190”, 208”, and 230” will support different applications.

The electric vans feature a spacious cargo area and a choice of vocational packages specifically designed for functionality, Shyft Group said. 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 power of auxiliary systems like heating and air conditioning for use in extreme weather locations.

Blue Arc offers vehicle and driver safety technologies such as 360°cameras, large in-dash HD camera displays, and proximity sensors as well as keyless and automated entry, and ease of entry/exit for last-mile deliveries with multi-stop routes.

“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, and 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,” said Eric Fisher, senior vice president and general manager, Shyft Innovations. “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.”

Check out this walkaround video of the van from Work Truck Magazine!