Amazon switches to electric trucks

Amazon has just added 50 new electric trucks to its commercial fleet in California. A new step towards greener transportation.

The all-electric Volvo semi-trailers will transport both heavy freight containers and Amazon customer parcels during first-mile operations in the California transportation sector. The trucks will join hundreds of electric Ford and Rivian vans used for last-mile operations, meaning direct handovers to customers.

This marks the first time the company’s maritime freight operations utilize electric trucks, as they are equipped to receive containers directly from ships at the foot of the Golden Gate. They have already started operating in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with a dozen expected to be in service by the end of the year. While this is a commendable effort, it should be noted that access to ports will be completely restricted to diesel trucks starting in 2040. However, Amazon has committed to a responsible roadmap and is sticking to it.

The electric semi-truck chosen by Amazon is the Volvo VNR Electric. These Class 8 trucks have a range of up to 450 km. They are equipped with the latest safety technologies, including active collision mitigation, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. In total, these Volvo VNR trucks are expected to cover nearly two million kilometers each year without emitting harmful particulate matter.

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