Amazon accelerates commitment to net zero with €1 billion EV investment
Author : Sophia Bell, Group Editor, DPA
11 October 2022
The tech giant has announced plans to electrify its fleet of delivery lorries, vans and cargo bikes over the next five years.
(Image: Shutterstock)
On Monday 10 October, Amazon announced that it will invest more than €1 billion (£880 million) to decarbonise its transport network across Europe.
“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,” said Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon.
Due to the weight and size of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), they have traditionally posed a problem for companies looking to decarbonise their operations. Electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) are the solution, but wide-scale adoption has, until now, remained limited due to the lack of production and charging infrastructure.
With the new investment, Amazon plans to tackle this challenge by scaling up its production of eHGVs, aiming to roll out more than 1,500 in Europe. This includes a £300 million investment in its British fleet, which will see the number of eHGVs on UK roads increase from just five to an impressive 700 by 2025.
The online retailer will also more than triple its fleet of electric vans across the continent, from 3,000 today to 10,000 in three years’ time.
To facilitate the transition from diesel to electric, Amazon plans to install hundreds of fast charging points throughout its warehouses, which will allow the vehicles to be charged in just two hours.
The company hopes its initiative will inspire more investment in public charging infrastructure throughout Europe, as well as encouraging the rest of the industry similarly to step up and reduce emissions: “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,” Jassy said.
As part of its sustainability goals, the company has launched ‘micromobility hubs’. These small, centrally located delivery stations allow Amazon to deliver packages more sustainably through methods such as e-cargo bikes and on-foot deliveries. The hubs have already been installed in 20 European cities, with the retailer looking to double this figure by 2025.
“We are committed to creating cleaner transport as we work to tackle the global challenge that is climate change,” said Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
“Significant investments like Amazon’s today will be vital to reducing emissions and meeting our net zero goals, while supporting growth at the same time.
“By adding thousands of electric and zero-emission vehicles to its fleet, Amazon is not only working to make their deliveries more sustainable, but also stimulating innovation across industry in the drive to cleaner transport.”