Amazon will roll out approximately 50 electric heavy-duty trucks throughout Southern California. The all-electric trucks will transport cargo containers and customer packages in first- and middle-mile operations, the company said. Together, these trucks are expected to travel more than a million miles each year, Amazon said.
The first mile, or global logistics, is where goods are transported from where they are manufactured, through customs, across oceans, to ports, and then into Amazon’s fulfillment network. Amazon said its electric trucks for ocean freight operations, also known as pickup trucks, have started hitting the road at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and are expected to reach a dozen by the end of the year. Electric transport trucks transport containers from ports to Amazon’s facility in Santa Fe Springs, California, where items are prepared for the next leg of their journey — the middle mile.
According to Amazon, middle-mile trucks move customer orders between fulfillment centers, sortation centers, air facilities and delivery stations, where packages are loaded into last-mile trucks to be delivered to customers’ doorsteps. The company has deployed 35 heavy-duty electric vehicles in Southern California and has installed more than 45 direct current (DC) fast chargers at 11 truck operation sites.
“We are proud to launch our largest fleet of heavy-duty electric vehicles to date in California,” said Udit Madan, vice president of Amazon’s global operations. “Heavy trucking is an area where decarbonisation is particularly difficult, which makes us even more excited to have these vehicles on the road today. We will use what we learn from deploying these vehicles as we continue to identify and invest in solutions to reduce emissions in our transportation network, and to impact sustainability in the transportation industry.” Trucking on a larger scale.
Amazon said the Volvo VNR battery-electric Class 8 trucks have a range of 275 miles and a gross curb weight of 82,000 pounds.
“Within Amazon’s operations, the Volvo VNR Electric will provide zero-emission transportation across a variety of different applications efficiently and sustainably. The Volvo VNR Electric is built on the already proven regional VNR platform, making it a Well-suited for towing and medium-distance operations, particularly in densely populated areas and medium to heavy traffic volumes.” and Systems Solutions, Volvo Group North America. “We are thrilled to work with Amazon’s expanding fleet in their transition to electric mobility and help pave the way for a more efficient future And sustainability.”
Amazon said it has been operating electric tractors since 2019 and now has more than 140 moving trailers around its U.S. locations. In 2022, Amazon launched Rivian’s custom electric delivery trucks and has expanded over the past two years, rolling out more than 13,500 across the country.
In addition to getting more electric vehicles on the road, Amazon said it is investing in alternative fuels like green hydrogen and biofuels to reduce carbon emissions in its trucking and marine operations. Amazon also said it has established the Zero Emissions Marine Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) alongside the Aspen Institute, Patagonia and Tchibo to enable companies to access zero-emission shipping solutions that are not currently available.
Amazon said it has a number of sustainability initiatives in California to help reduce emissions and support the communities in which it operates. The company has 58 renewable energy projects in the state and a growing number of buildings seeking International Living Futures Institute low-carbon building certification known as “Zero Carbon Certification,” including a same-day location and three Amazon GO stores located in California. She said she donated $200,000 to The Bay Foundation to help support kelp reforestation in Santa Monica Bay.
Since 2010, Amazon said it has created more than 153,000 full- and part-time jobs in California and invested more than $142 billion across the state, including infrastructure from fulfillment centers, Whole Foods Market locations and two technology centers.