CASE STUDY
MacDonald-Miller turns to Chevrolet BrightDrop for sustainability and lower costs.
Founded in 1965, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions is a full-service, design-build mechanical contractor in the Pacific Northwest. Its operations include 11 locations and a team of over 1,000 professionals. MacDonald-Miller offers mechanical engineering, design-build construction, custom metal fabrication, building system service, maintenance and energy management programs. The company is also a State of Washington- and State of Oregon-approved Energy Services Company.
CHALLENGES
Sustainability goals & reducing emissions
MacDonald-Miller wanted to achieve both its internal sustainability goals and its commitment to reducing emissions by 2040 as a signatory for the Climate Pledge Act. They also needed to meet customer demands to lower the operating costs passed on to them. Adding EVs to the company’s service fleet created additional challenges, such as expanding its charging infrastructure to accommodate EVs and overcoming driver concerns about vehicle range.
SOLUTIONS
BrightDrop & GM Envolve
The company chose the 2025 Chevrolet BrightDrop as its EV upgrade due to its best-in-class
RESULTS
Immediate cost savings & lower emissions
Switching to BrightDrop vans helped MacDonald-Miller realize immediate cost savings on fuel and maintenance, which helped it meet customer demands to lower operating costs. The EVs’ features and capabilities, along with extended range, made it easier to overcome driver concerns and hesitation about using them in their fleet. BrightDrop’s zero tailpipe emissions also helped contribute to the company’s sustainability and climate pledge goals.
An innovative EV solution
MacDonald-Miller has around 850 technicians in its field-services operations, along with a fleet of approximately 920 vehicles. Technicians handle installations and repairs for the company’s electrical, utilities, HVAC, construction and special projects, as well as any additional service requests that pop up.
Previously, MacDonald-Miller had established several sustainability goals to reduce emissions, increase efficiency and keep pace with its own standards for environmental responsibility (stewardship). The company furthered its commitment by signing the Climate Pledge Act, which is the State of Washington’s initiative to take action on climate change. Each signatory pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
Customers also wanted MacDonald-Miller to streamline its field-services operations for greater consistency and compliance with each job and reduce the operating costs that are passed on to them.
To help meet its sustainability goals and address customer demands, MacDonald-Miller decided to upgrade its service fleet to electric vehicles (EVs). Doing so brought its own set of challenges. There were up-front EV purchase costs to consider, along with infrastructure and charger installation costs to prep the company’s facilities to support EVs.
Additional factors came into play, like overcoming initial driver hesitation to using EVs, adapting a new technology (such as deploying a telematics solution and installing chargers) into the company’s operations and potential range limitations. Route planning for longer distances was flagged as a potential issue due to inconsistent installation of home chargers at technicians’ residences.
To solve these challenges, MacDonald-Miller sought an innovative EV solution, that’s why they chose the Chevrolet BrightDrop electric van and GM Envolve.
Why Chevrolet BrightDrop and GM Envolve
2025 BrightDrop EVs are designed to meet the day-to-day challenges field-service teams face while conducting service calls or working at job sites. It offers a best-in-class
Pilot program
MacDonald-Miller conducted a three-day pilot program to test BrightDrop’s capabilities before making a decision. The company had originally bought only one BrightDrop for testing, but after seeing — and being impressed by — the results of the pilot program, it immediately purchased nine more.
Its internal spaciousness allowed MacDonald-Miller to upfit
GM Envolve provided ongoing planning and logistical support as MacDonald-Miller switched to EVs. “The GM Envolve team was amazing; they were there for us each step of the way. They talked through all the available incentives and discounts, and it was just an easy process from ask to receive,” said Meghan Marquardt, Fleet and Logistics Manager, MacDonald-Miller. “We had the luxury to test a BrightDrop van and that was the support we needed. The roll out went smoothly, and GM Envolve always had our back and provided us with insights and opportunities to buy.”
“It started off with who was willing to go first. As you switch over from fuel to charge, there’s a lot of range fear with drivers. Once we implemented the first few EVs, it was a feeding frenzy and everyone wanted one.”
— Meghan Marquardt, Fleet and Logistics Manager, MacDonald-Miller
Charging at home and company facilities
To address its charging challenges, MacDonald-Miller’s internal electrical team installed charging stations at company facilities and drivers’ homes. It also reimbursed drivers for the costs of adding stations to their homes. This expanded infrastructure, combined with telematics, helped change MacDonald-Miller’s operations significantly, streamline route planning and reduce the logistical workload across multiple internal departments.
Deploying BrightDrop in the fleet
MacDonald-Miller uses a combination of BrightDrop 400 and 600 vans for its delivery teams in Oregon and southwest Washington. The company easily upfitted
Winning over drivers
Driver hesitation was another challenge that MacDonald-Miller needed to overcome. Many were concerned about range or features they had on their current vehicles not being available in an EV. That all changed once drivers became familiar with all that BrightDrop had to offer.
Plus, drivers appreciated BrightDrop’s One-Pedal Driving
“Even with our vehicles upfitted* and loaded with necessary equipment, the range is more than enough for our daily needs.”
— Meghan Marquardt, Fleet and Logistics Manager, MacDonald-Miller
Exceeding expectations
2025 BrightDrop’s best-in-class
Measuring electrification success
MacDonald-Miller uses multiple key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge the success of its electrification project, such as fuel-to-charge ratio and driver satisfaction. But two prominent KPIs really stand out as major contributors to the project’s success: lower ongoing fuel and maintenance costs.
“We anticipate seeing potential monthly cost savings on fuel, depending on usage patterns and other operational factors. And don’t get me started about maintenance costs; with warranties and lower scheduled maintenance costs, we are counting on meaningful reductions in those costs, too.”
— Meghan Marquardt, Fleet and Logistics Manager, MacDonald-Miller
What’s next
MacDonald-Miller will continue adding more EVs to its fleet, with Chevrolet BrightDrop and GM Envolve playing a critical role.
“GM Envolve will be the biggest part of our future and help us make our best choices for the company to grow successfully. They have helped build us up to where we are now, and they will be with us for the future of our company.”
— Meghan Marquardt, Fleet and Logistics Manager, MacDonald-Miller
Marquardt also offered tips for companies that are considering electrification for their field-services fleets: “Managing EVs doesn’t have to be complicated. Connect with your local GM rep and see how OnStar Vehicle Insights
“Don’t be scared; try before you buy,” Marquardt suggested.
