Image credits: Amazon
E-commerce giant Amazon announced on Monday that it plans to invest more than €1B over the next five years to electrify its transportation network across Europe and accelerate its net-zero carbon drive by 2040.
Amazon says the investment also intends to spur innovation across the transportation industry and encourage more public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs).
At present, the retailer uses more than 3,000 electric vans to deliver packages to customers across Europe. The investment will enable it to grow its fleet to more than 10,000 by 2025..
Doubling micro-mobility
Amazon launched micro-mobility hubs in more than 20 cities across Europe, including London, Munich, and Paris, and expects to double that figure by the end of 2025.
Typically, micro-mobility hubs are smaller delivery stations, enabling Amazon to operate new delivery methods, such as e-cargo bikes and on-foot deliveries, to bring more sustainably to customers.
Micro-mobility hubs are Amazon’s answer to traditional delivery vans clogging city streets and causing traffic congestion. By taking delivery vans off the road, micro-mobility hubs help to improve air quality in cities.
The company also plans to invest in thousands of chargers across its European facilities to improve fleet charging hardware.
Sorting out long-haul transportation
According to Amazon, long-haul transportation presents a unique challenge regarding decarbonisation. It is mostly due to the large size and weight of the trucks and trailers, and the long distances they need to travel.
Even though electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) are promising, production and charging infrastructure availability are limited, says the company.
Amazon now has five eHGVs in the UK and plans to have 20 on the road in Germany by the end of this year.
With the investment announced, Amazon expects to purchase and roll out more than 1,500 eHGVs in its European fleet in the coming years.
To power its eHGVs, Amazon says it will build hundreds of specialised fast chargers across its European facilities, allowing the company to charge these vehicles in approximately two hours.
“Our transportation network is one of the most challenging areas of our business to decarbonise, and to achieve net-zero carbon will require a substantial and sustained investment,” says Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO.
“Deploying thousands of electric vans, long-haul trucks, and bikes will help us shift further away from traditional fossil fuels—and hopefully, further encourage transportation and automotive industries in Europe and around the world to continue scaling and innovating, as we will have to work together to reach our climate goals,” he adds.
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