Commercial fleet, transportation management and truck rental services provider Ryder System, Inc. announced that it will become the exclusive sales channel partner and service provider for Chanje, a new medium-duty electric vehicle (EV) and energy services company based in California.
Chanje unveiled its new V8070 electric panel van last week. Ryder said it has placed its initial order for Chanje vehicles, the first of which will be distributed to Ryder locations in "strategic U.S. markets" and be available for ChoiceLease customers in the coming weeks.
Additionally, a portion of the new vehicles will be added to Ryder's commercial rental fleet so customers will be able to experience them on a short-term basis. Ryder said it will offer "a combination of comprehensive and preventive maintenance solutions" for the Chanje vans as part of Ryder's SelectCare fleet maintenance portfolio.
In a similar vein, Ryder announced a partnership back in May to offer sales and service for Workhorse Group Inc.'s E-100 and E-GEN range-extended hybrid electric medium-duty vehicles as well as Workhorse's new W-15 electric pickup truck launched this year.
Backed by Hong Kong-based FDG Electric Vehicle Limited, Chanje is targeting large-scale fleets of electric medium-duty trucks and said it plans to offer "energy as a service" power and charging capabilities for fleet customers. Ryder will work with Chanje to develop charging infrastructure for the vehicles, with a focus on using renewable energy.
Chanje's V8070 medium duty EV is designed for urban last-mile delivery and features a max payload capacity of 6,000 lbs. and 580 cu. ft. of cargo space. According to the company, it's aimed at use "in highly populated urban areas where pollution and noise are a mounting concern."
The relationship with Ryder provides Chanje with an established nationwide network for maintenance. Bryan Hansel, founder and CEO of Chanje, noted the company needed "the right partner who can provide the breadth and expertise required to accelerate the entry of these vehicles into the market."
"Ryder's mission to provide flexible fleet management solutions and make commercial transportation more efficient directly aligns with our vision. We know Chanje can rely on Ryder to meet the unique service requirements of electric vehicles," Hansel stated.
