While the advances in battery technology and management capabilities properly position electric vehicles in compete in the open market, it is the growing number of industry commitments driving the continued development efforts.
Case in point: GoFor Industries, a last mile, on-demand delivery, and logistics marketplace provider, recently announced a strategic partnership with electric vehicle Fleet-as-a-Service (Faas) provider, Royale EV. The partnership is part of GoFor’s commitment to the emerging green logistics marketplace and part of GoFor’s aim to reduce environmental and energy footprint in logistics, while offering superior return-on-investment.
“The green logistics marketplace aligns with our core values, which are rooted in driver and vehicle safety coupled with environmental protection,” said Brad Rollo, GoFor CEO, in a statement. “We are aiming to convert half of our fleet to electric by 2025, beginning with GoFor’s California-based fleet, followed by rapid expansion across North America. With these electric vehicles, we hope to help reduce air pollution, cut sound and help reduce carbon emissions in the inner cities.”
The global Covid-19 pandemic and resulting demand for more efficient delivery mechanisms has also boosted demand for Royale EV’s fleet-as-a-service platform from fleet and retail operators, who recognize the significant cost savings of going electric as well as the benefits to driver safety and the environment. Royale EV’s advanced technologies include enhanced driver safety and robotic delivery systems.
"Climate change is all around us. By collaborating with Royale EV, we feel with the increased reliance on delivery due to COVID-19, now is the time to drive real change in our carbon-intensive vertical," Rollo tells IndustryWeek. "The total cost of ownership of electric vehicles is lower than traditional gas-powered vehicles, thus keeping more money in the pockets of GoFor Drivers. We also feel that deliveries being as green as possible will appeal to businesses who share our environmental concerns."
GoFor delivers hundreds of thousands of packages, parcels, furniture and big-and-bulky building materials each year for companies of all sizes and industries, with flexible shipping options and scalable outsourced fleets.
The company is rapidly growing its logistics operations and has experienced record growth during the ongoing global pandemic, which has spurred unprecedented demand for reliable, same-day delivery from brands across all industries. GoFor’s hundreds of customers are among the biggest names in retail, including North America’s largest home improvement chain.
“Online buying and consumers that want their products delivered today are here to stay,” Rollo said. “Our focus is on helping businesses big or small get their products into the hands of customers faster — with an 11 out of 10 delivery experience every time.”
Why Royale EV? Says Rollo, “"Royale EV is electrifying existing vocational vehicle chassis, not building new vehicles from scratch. They are also electrifying a full suite (beyond just a transit van conversion) of vocational vehicles -- all of which fit the GoFor delivery model."
“Market demand far outstrips supply right now, and the biggest challenge fleet operators face is how to manage the complexity and cost of switching to an unfamiliar transportation platform and infrastructure,” said Ian Gardner, Royale EV CEO. “We make switching transportation platforms easy by managing all of the different elements for the operator and by giving a superior delivery experience at a steady, predictable cost.”
Prior to the electric vehicle partnership, GoFor recently secured $20 million in Series A Funding to finance expansion into 11 new American cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Memphis, Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami and Phoenix. GoFor also services Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Charlotte and major metropolitan areas across Canada.
