Amazon to deploy 10K electric last-mile vans en route to net-zero carbon

Amazon will put 10,000 custom Rivian electric delivery vans on the road “as early as 2022,” the company said in a blog post last week revealing the design.

Utility Dive reported the vans include sensor detection, a suite of highway and traffic assist tools, cameras to facilitate a 360-degree view around the vehicle, and multiple safety features that cater to the work of an Amazon driver, according to the company.

Amazon ordered 100,000 total custom vans from Rivian to be delivered by 2030 and it’s possible some of those will be used at the company’s distribution centers in Oklahoma.

“We are working to advance and implement the technology that will support these vans — ranging from the physical charging infrastructure to enhancements and optimization of our delivery stations,” Ross Rachey, director of Amazon’s global fleet and products, said in the blog post.

Amazon has committed to reaching net-zero carbon production in its own operations by 2040 as part of its Climate Pledge. The company can’t get there without wide adoption of electric vehicles, if it wants to avoid reliance on carbon offsets, according to Anand Gopal, climate initiative program officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

“It’s pretty important that they electrify their fleet to have any hope of meeting their Climate Pledge,” Gopal said.

Amazon had trouble finding an electric van tailored to the needs of its drivers, according to the blog post, hence the custom order.

“We hope our custom electric vehicle helps create a sense of urgency in the industry to think big about embracing sustainable technology and solutions — whether you’re a package delivery company, a logistics company, an ice cream manufacturer, or almost anyone else with vehicles on the road,” said Rachey.

Source: Utility Dive