Spartan Motors to build all-electric walk-in van fleet for AmeriPride

Spartan Fleet Vehicles and Services, a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. which encompasses the Utilimaster brand, announced it has accepted and will fulfill a 20-unit order from AmeriPride Services, one of the largest textile rental services and supply companies in North America, for an innovative walk-in van solution which integrates the Utilimaster body design with Motiv Power Systems' electric vehicle (EV) propulsion solution. The order is scheduled for delivery in early 2018.  

For nearly a decade, Utilimaster has innovated for clients, spanning the alternative fuel and electric vehicle landscape. The Ameripride order further confirms Utilimaster's expertise in the alternative fuel fleet vehicle space.

Spartan began working with Ameripride and Motiv in mid-2017 on this particular electric powertrain walk-in van concept. Yielding proof that Spartan's iterative Work Driven Design process pays dividends for customers, the vehicle and subsequent 20-unit fleet order will have a range of 85 miles on a full charge and up to 20 percent gradeability.

"The AmeriPride EV van characterizes the strategic approach we take in the design of our upfit packages – listen to the customers' needs and expectations and design a unique package to exceed them," said Daryl Adams, President and CEO, Spartan Motors. "Strategic alliances with Motiv and others demonstrate our ability to innovate and advance the markets we serve and allow us to best serve customers like Ameriprise. Couple these strategic partnerships with our 35-year history as a leading fleet provider, and it's no secret why Utilimaster and Spartan are in the optimal position to serve the growing alternative fuel market for large fleet customers."

Spartan's Utilimaster team has engaged with AmeriPride for 20+ years, allowing the team to engineer a body suitable for the EV chassis platform based on insights gained from previous builds. The design was developed using Utilimaster's proprietary fleet analysis process, the Utilimaster Difference, that emphasizes on-site fleet review and ride-along insights that inform solution-based designs—with zero fleet downtime.

"Our focus on reducing the carbon footprint of our delivery trucks demonstrates our commitment to the environment and the communities where we operate," said Banny Allison, Fleet Services Manager, AmeriPride Services, Inc. "We're proud of that commitment and know that Spartan and Motiv will help us to continue our journey as a leader in environmental sustainability and our efforts to implement green technologies, while providing world-class transport capability to our customers."

Motiv's All-Electric Powertrain includes the company's electric Powertrain Control System, batteries, motors, and other components to allow for universal charging compatibility and secure remote telematics and diagnostics.