For delivery platforms to stand out in the competition, they have to develop gimmicks that people will also love. Amazon is a prime example. Such is true when they chose not to highlight robotaxis, as others would, but “cool delivery vans.” Here’s the scoop.
From America to Europe
A correspondent for The Cool Down, a publication that champions sustainability, recently reported how Amazon’s electric vans are hitting the roads not only in the United States but also in Europe, and they are making continuous progress.
It was during the summer of 2022 when Amazon embarked on a journey to roll out a hundred thousand electric delivery cars on the road, thanks to Rivian delivery vans.
Rivian, though lesser known, is a California-based electric vehicle manufacturer, automotive technology company, and outdoor recreation company founded in 2009. They make magic with their long-range electric vehicles, designed for adventure, and indeed, Amazon’s delivery services are a total adventure.
These electric delivery vans reportedly delivered more than a billion packages across America last year. In addition, around 150 Amazon delivery stations and over 24,000 electric vehicle chargers have been installed in the United States.
“This significant shift toward EVs boosts the industry. The more Amazon embraces these vehicles, the easier it will be for the average person to make the switch,” the correspondent for The Cool Down, Veronica Booth, further said.
In just over three years, Amazon’s fleet with Rivian has already expanded to 20,000 vans in a whopping more than 40 cities in the United States. The list includes Denver, New York, Seattle, Boston, and so much more.
And they are making excellent progress. The Cool Down stated Amazon’s goal is to have 100,000 of them on the road by 2030. This goal is part of their Climate Pledge, which seeks to reduce emissions to absolutely zero by 2040.
Created out of the collaboration between Amazon and advocacy group Global Optimism, the Climate Pledge is the online mega-retailer’s commitment to achieve “net-zero” carbon pollution by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement.
When saying “net-zero,” it means removing the same range of pollution from the air using various techniques, such as cutting down on its current pollution levels and investing in solutions to deal with pollution from the air, like reforestation projects and these delivery vans.
Amazon currently has delivery cars, e-cargo bikes, and e-rickshaws, apart from these brands.
People are loving it
In fact, a Reddit community was created to discuss this project, and several people called it “cool.”
“It happened almost suddenly, they popped up in my neighborhood and city. It’s cool seeing them on the roads putting in work over gasoline vans,” Redditor Starky_Love wrote.
Others are wanting to see them in their locations, too, such as in Canada, according to Hsybdocate5.
“What other companies buy fleet vehicles? I only see Amazon and never anyone else,” remarked cryptotrader87.