Tech giant Amazon is looking to invest more than €1 billion into electric vans, trucks, and low emission package hubs over the next five years towards their goal of net zero emissions by 2040.
According to a recent Reuters report, the investment will help Amazon build its European fleet of vans, or “last-mile” vehicles, by increasing the current number of 3,000 zero-emission vehicles to over 10,000 by 2025.
Additionally, Amazon plans to purchase more than 1,500 electric heavy goods vehicles, also known as “middle-mile” delivery vehicles, to be used between package hubs.
The news follows Amazons July announcement that they would be buying over 100,000 electric vans from Rivian Automotive. They plan to have these vans on US roads by 2030.
Speaking of the US purchase, RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian said, “Today represents an important step, not just for Amazon and Rivian as partners, but also for transportation and the environment,”
The company said that alongside its European EV expansion, it will invest in thousands of chargers at facilities across the continent.
The investment reinforces the goal set forth in Amazons Climate Pledge, which aims to reach net zero by 2040. The pledge includes other notable companies, including Microsoft, Unilever, Verizon, and Mercedes-Benz.
Other companies in the logistics sector, such as FedEx and UPS, are also hoping to expand their electric delivery fleets. FedEx intends to convert its entire parcel pickup and delivery fleet to electric, zero-emissions vehicles by 2040. Whereas, UPS has a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 and achieving 40% alternative fuel in ground operations by 2025.
