AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – A new commercial van is among the latest models in Chevrolet’s electric-vehicle portfolio to hit the streets, and it’s already commanding the attention of customers in the Mahoning Valley.
It helps that a Chevy BrightDrop 400 is situated front and center outside Greenwood Chevrolet’s showroom along Mahoning Avenue in Austintown – a vehicle that stands out among a row of passenger vehicles.
“The BrightDrop is definitely getting the attention from our customers as they drive through here,” says Kevin Lawson, leasing and sales consultant at Greenwood. “We see these on the news, but to see one in Youngstown, Ohio, is pretty nice.”
Lawson says the BrightDrop EV is a vehicle specifically targeted for use by small businesses. While the model at Greenwood is not for sale and is not available for test drives, those who are in the market for a commercial cargo van are able to get an upfront look at its size, layout, features and style, he says.
“It’s geared toward a small business for in-town driving,” Lawson says. “Say a plumber or roofer. You can get in, take a look around, and see if it would make sense for your business needs.” One such businessman, a local contractor who installs gutters, stopped in recently to inquire about the van’s features, especially the electrical outlets in the cargo area. The van would enable him to simply plug-in equipment such as an electric saw in the back of the vehicle, where he could then cut gutters to custom lengths.
Greenwood’s model is a 400 series, meaning it has 400 cubic feet of cargo space, Lawson notes. A larger model, the BrightDrop 600, allows for 600 cubic feet.
More Advantages
Since the BrightDrop is an EV, a business owner doesn’t need to worry about oil changes or transmission issues, says Lawson. The van also comes equipped with front and rear automatic braking, 360-degree cameras, as well as overhead images of the vehicle that are projected on the dashboard screen. “It also has a low entry point,” he says. “You’re not crawling or climbing into the back of the truck – you’re stepping in. There are almost 20 safety features on this van that are standard.”
Other amenities include a heated steering wheel, heated seats, heated mirrors and a jump seat in the front. “There are a lot of luxury features for a commercial vehicle,” he says.
Among the biggest concerns among customers – and this is common across the board for potential EV buyers – is battery range, Lawson says. The BrightDrop 400 has a range of approximately 300 miles, which is ideal for local driving, he notes. Moreover, General Motors has placed a discount of up to $26,000 for qualified buyers on the BrightDrop that is effective until Sept. 30. “This vehicle stickers for about $80,000,” he says. With the discount, the price is very competitive with gas engine cargo vans.
Currently, anyone interested in purchasing a BrightDrop would need to place an order through the dealership, Lawson says. “Delivery could take between 10 and 12 weeks, or if one of the fulfillment centers has one ready for us, we could get one in a matter of days,” he says. “It just depends on the availability.”
Test Drive
Maureen McCowin, sales manager at Greenwood, says that she recently experienced firsthand how the BrightDrop performs while attending the Chevy Experience event hosted by GM in Indianapolis.
“I got to take one on a racetrack,” McCowin says. “I got it up to 75 miles per hour and you can’t even tell you’re going that fast. I couldn’t believe I was driving a van.” Plus, she added its turning performance is superb.
McCowin also had a chance to test drive a new E-Ray Corvette, as well as a new SS Blazer EV.
“What this tells me is that the EV future is here and is not going away,” McCowin says, evidenced by new products such as the BrightDrop. “They’re versatile. And people will be able to use them for a lot of different things.”
Manufacturers Pullback
Still, overall demand in the EV market is showing signs of straining. In early September, Reuters reported that GM plans to halt production of two Cadillac EV models manufactured at its Spring Hill, Tenn., plant during the month of December. The automaker also said it would curtail production of the vehicles into next year.
Automakers were anticipating a slowdown in EV demand as federal tax credits on the vehicles were set to expire Sept. 30. In July, the Trump administration’s tax and spending bill cleared Congress without including a $7,500 tax credit on most electric vehicle purchases that has been in effect for years.
GM nevertheless reported that its EV sales in August were the best ever, as buyers scrambled to purchase new EVs before the tax credits expired. In August, GM reported it sold 21,000 battery EVs across its brand portfolio. The automaker said it also expects strong EV orders in September and then reduced demand after the tax incentives sunset.
GM is the second-largest seller of EVs in North America, and the company said in September that its customers will have access to more than 65,000 public fast-charging bays across the U.S. by the end of the year. By the end of 2026, that number is expected to grow to 80,000, and then to 100,000 by the end of
2027.
Reasons for Optimism
“We’re really proud of the fact that General Motors is doing really well in the EV segment,” Greenwood’s Lawson says. In August, the dealership reported it sold five EVs – less than in some previous months, but more overall compared to last year. “There were years where we didn’t sell five in a year,” he
says.
New products and model variations in the EV space has helped customers place their faith in electric vehicles, Lawson notes. Improved technology will lead to greater battery range, while style is also an important factor in winning new buyers.
“They’re sharp. They’re good-looking cars,” he says.
Moreover, GM is consistently pushing new boundaries with research and development, Lawson says, evidenced by a new world range record set by a Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck pickup. Engineers were able to outfit the Silverado Work with a high-capacity battery that was able to run 1,059 miles on a single charge during a test drive over seven days along public roads in Michigan.
As technology advances, it helps to drive the price of EVs down.
“We’re happy to hang our hat on that,” Lawson says, “since range anxiety is the biggest thing standing between someone buying an
EV.”
The Silverado EV Trail Boss, for example, boasts a battery range of 478 miles on a single charge, using a maximum capacity battery, Lawson says. “This vehicle has it all,” he says as he walks around a new Magnus Gray Silverado EV in the dealership’s service department. The vehicle includes all of the available luxury amenities, including 35-inch tires, four-wheel steer, and a terrain mode to better navigate the vehicle through different road conditions.
Towing capacity for the truck is gauged at 12,500 pounds, Lawson says. “The tough question I get is ‘how does it affect our range?’” he says, noting that the more weight pulled results in a decrease in battery range. “I can’t give you a straight answer.”
That’s because the Silverado Trail Boss has the capability to “learn” and adjust its battery range accordingly as the vehicle tows its load, Lawson says. “As soon as I hit tow-mode, it cuts the range in half to be conservative,” he explains. “Once you start driving, and the truck learns how much you’re towing, it can give you more range. The truck will tell you.”
The Silverado also contains bidirectional battery capability, which enables the vehicle to act as a type of power generator that is able to support a household should it lose electricity service. The vehicle is also equipped with other high-end interior features.
“That’s what’s becoming unique about the Trail Boss,” Lawson says. “It’s not only about the outside and the things it can do, like off-roading, but it’s about the inside and comfort as well.”
Pictured at top: Kevin Lawson, leasing and sales consultant at Greenwood Chevrolet, sits in a new Chevrolet BrightDrop cargo van.