When Oklahoma City’s new Amazon distribution center gets into full operations, it’s likely the delivery vehicles will be electric vehicles. Same for the deliveries to be made by the new distribution center in Tulsa.
Amazon has put in an order with the electric vehicle startup company Rivian Automotive for 100,000 electric vans over the next decade. It is reported to be the largest order of fully EVs in automotive history.
The first of the vans will hit the streets and highways by 2021 and 10,000 will be on the road by late 2022. All 100,000 are to be in operation in Amazon’s fleet by 2030.
Considering Rivian didn’t have signs identifying its Plymouth headquarters at last fall’s Los Angeles Auto Show, it’s considered to be a big, big step for the company.
“It’s a real vote of confidence from Amazon,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst at Ann Arbor-based Navigant Research, who focuses on mobility. “Buying early vehicles would be an indicator for other companies who are considering electrifying their fleet that Rivian is a company they need to take a look at if they’re going to do this. Amazon doesn’t make decisions like this lightly.”
