Amazon has announced the deployment of 50 battery-electric heavy-duty trucks in California, marking the largest such fleet in the country. The move is part of the company’s broader mission to reduce pollution from its global operations, despite a recent spike in its carbon emissions.
According to Amazon, these trucks will play a crucial role in its first-mile and middle-mile operations, transporting goods from container ships at ports to fulfillment centers, and from there to various delivery centers. Some of these trucks will join Amazon’s drayage fleet, which moves goods from the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach to fulfillment centers.
The heavy-duty trucks are manufactured by Volvo VNR, a division of the Swedish automaker specializing in Class 8 tractor trailers. These trucks offer a range of up to 275 miles, a battery capacity of 565kWh, and can charge from zero to 80 percent in 90 minutes. They can tow over 66,000 pounds, with towing capacity potentially affecting battery range.
Amazon plans to deploy a dozen trucks for drayage operations by the end of the year. Additionally, 35 trucks will be used for middle-mile services, transporting goods between fulfillment centers and various locations, including sort centers, air facilities, and delivery centers. Amazon’s electric delivery vans, produced by Rivian, will handle the final delivery leg of the packages.
“We’re proud to launch our largest fleet of electric heavy-duty vehicles yet in California,” said Udit Madan, vice president of worldwide Amazon operations.
Amazon aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, but faces challenges due to its significant greenhouse gas emissions. The company generated 71.27 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022, slightly lower than the previous year but higher than in 2019 when it first committed to carbon neutrality.
Despite these efforts, the majority of trucks and vans delivering packages for Amazon, FedEx, and UPS still rely on fossil fuels. While many companies have plans to electrify their fleets, the number of electric vehicles on the road remains limited.
