Just last year, Amazon announced The Climate Pledge, a commitment to be carbon-zero by 2040. The sustainability mission is already in full force as the company debuted its first fully-electric custom delivery van. The vehicle was designed and built in partnership with EV startup Rivian. It’s full of industry-leading safety and design features, as well as state-of-the-art technology, like an advanced driver-assist system and sensing equipment.
Amazon’s director of global fleet and products Ross Rachey said in a statement:
When we set out to create our first customized electric delivery vehicle with Rivian, we knew that it needed to far surpass any other delivery vehicle. We wanted drivers to love using it and customers to feel excited when they saw it driving through their neighborhood and pulling up to their home. We combined Rivian’s technology with our delivery logistics knowledge, and the result is what you see here — the future of last-mile delivery.
The delivery vans are scheduled to hit the road in 2021, with the goal of 10,000 vehicles out making deliveries by 2022. The delivery giant aims to have 100,000 vans in service by 2030, all of which have already been purchased.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said:
The vehicle we’ve developed with Amazon is not just electric. We prioritized safety and functionality to create a vehicle that’s optimized for package delivery. We thought through how drivers get in and out of the van, what the workspace feels like, and what the workflow is for delivering packages.
Rachey added:
We are working to advance and implement the technology that will support these vans—ranging from the physical charging infrastructure to enhancements and optimization of our delivery stations.
The drivers will have a 360-degree view outside thanks to exterior cameras linked to a digital display inside the cabin. There’s also Alexa support for hands-free navigation help, info about their routes, and weather updates. And, the driver’s side door has been strengthened for extra protection. There are three levels of shelving for the cargo space, a dancefloor for easy movement, and a bulkhead door for quick access.
Rachey said:
We hope our custom electric vehicle helps create a sense of urgency in the industry to think big about embracing sustainable technology and solutions—whether you’re a package delivery company, a logistics company, an ice cream manufacturer, or almost anyone else with vehicles on the road.
Amazon has more transportation solutions in support of The Climate Pledge. It already has hundreds of electric vehicles worldwide and has invested in EV charging stations, with plans to expand this infrastructure. It’s also using e-cargo bikes for deliveries in EU urban centers and has 200 of them operating in New York City. In India, it’s using electric rickshaws.
Meanwhile, Rivian is relatively new in the industry, having only recently debuted its SUV and R1T electric pickup truck. Nevertheless, it’s pulling in massive investments, including the $700 million funding round by Amazon and another $1.3 billion from T. Rowe Price, plus others. The total for 2019 was over $2.8 billion in investments – the main contributors being T. Rowe Price, Amazon, and Ford.
