Amazon has announced that customers in the US will soon see custom electric delivery vehicles from Riviandelivering their packages. These electric vehicles (EVs) will be hitting the road in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis, among other cities.
This rollout is just the beginning of what is expected to be thousands of Amazon’s custom electric delivery vehicles in more than 100 cities by the end of this year. The online retailer plans to have 100,000 electric vehicles across the US by 2030.
The vehicles are designed from the ground up with safety, sustainability and comfort in mind, and have been thoroughly tested by drivers across the country. The custom vehicles are made at Rivian’s factory in Illinois and include a range of innovative technologies and features.
These features include batteries that are light, resilient and low cost, in addition to lasting the lifetime of the vehicle. Safety has also been key with superior 360-degree visibility and vehicle features that protect drivers and pedestrians. This includes sensor detection, highway and traffic assist technology, a large windscreen to enhance driver visibility, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and collision warnings.
They are the product of Amazon’s partnership with Rivian, which the companies announced in 2019. This is when Amazon co-founded and became the first signatory of The Climate Pledge, a commitment to reach net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040.
As part of the Pledge, Amazon is creating a more sustainable delivery fleet. Its work with Rivian is an important part of decarbonising its last mile logistics as well as accelerating innovation that can help others reach net-zero carbon. With its commitment to have all 100,000 electric delivery vehicles on the road by 2030, Amazon will save millions of metric tonnes of carbon per year.
Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO, said: “Fighting the effects of climate change requires constant innovation and action, and Amazon is partnering with companies who share our passion for inventing new ways to minimise our impact on the environment. Rivian has been an excellent partner in that mission, and we’re excited to see our first custom electric delivery vehicles on the road.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our Climate Pledge commitment. Rivian was one of the first companies Amazon invested in through the Climate Pledge Fund, and we’re just getting started on our journey to have 100,000 of Rivian’s vehicles on the road by 2030.
“And, in addition to being sustainable, these new vehicles are also great for drivers—they were designed with driver input and feedback along the way, and they’re among the safest and most comfortable delivery vehicles on the road today.”
Amazon has been testing deliveries with Rivian preproduction vehicles since 2021, delivering over 430,000 packages and accumulating over 90,000 miles (144840km). This testing has allowed Rivian to continuously improve the vehicle’s performance, safety and durability in various climates and geographies.
Rivian has also honed its state-of-the-art features to ensure driver satisfaction and overall functionality. Rivian has also completed certifications with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, California Air Resources Board, and US Environmental Protection Agency.
RJ Scaringe, Rivian CEO, said: “Today represents an important step, not just for Amazon and Rivian as partners, but also for transportation and the environment. In 2019, Rivian and Amazon committed to fast-tracking a new type of delivery vehicle that would result in a significant reduction of carbon emissions.
“Thanks to our teams’ dedication, hard work and collaboration, and a shared commitment to make the world a better place for our kids’ kids, that vision is now being realised.
“To say this is an exciting moment is an understatement—we’re thrilled to see this partnership has kickstarted decarbonisation projects across the logistics delivery industry.”
To support its move to electric vehicles, Amazon has added thousands of charging stations at its delivery stations across the country. It will continue to invest in building an infrastructure to support a more sustainable delivery fleet.
Amazon has also partnered with the nonprofit CERES, and several other fleet operators to launch the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance, bringing together companies to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.
These electric vehicles in the US join a growing rollout in the UK and Europe which include both last-mile delivery vans and longer distance heavy goods vehicles. Amazon has been working with several different brands to make this happen. These include Mercedes and Stellantis, a global mobility player with 14 brands including Vauxhall, Peugeot, Fiat, Citroën, Jeep, and Toyota Motor Europe.
With a massive growth in deliveries, especially last-mile deliveries, the use of electric vehicles is vital. This not only reduces pollution and aids health but also helps to keep the noise down in built-up areas. Plus, it helps firms like Amazon to reduce costs in zero-emission zones that are growing in towns and cities across the globe.
