Amazon has made a significant move towards decarbonising its operations with an order of over 140 electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs). This includes 20 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600s and eight Volvo FM Electrics, which will be deployed as part of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, supported by funding from the Department for Transport and Innovate UK.
Government Support for Decarbonisation
Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, highlighted the importance of collaboration between businesses and the Government, stating:
“Business has a crucial role to play in decarbonising our roads, and that’s why it’s fantastic to see Amazon place the UK’s biggest ever order of electric trucks, supported in part by the Government’s £200m ‘Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator’ project. This comes on top of our £2.3bn to help industry and consumers switch to electric vehicles, supporting jobs, attracting investment and making Britain a clean energy superpower.”
Charging Infrastructure Expansion
To support this fleet, Amazon plans to install additional fast-charging facilities at key locations across the UK. The eHGVs will benefit from 360kW chargers capable of recharging the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 from 20% to 80% in just over an hour. On a full charge, these vehicles offer an impressive range of up to 310 miles.
Amazon’s Commitment to Sustainability
Nicola Fyfe, EU Vice President of Amazon Logistics, emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainability:
“Decarbonising our transport network is key in helping us achieve our goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040. Today’s announcement is an exciting and major step forward in this mission.”
She added:
“The combination of our – and the UK’s – biggest ever order of eHGVs, the UK’s electric rail network now being used to transport customer packages, and the launch of restocking on-foot deliveries, alongside our partners’ fleet of electric vans and e-cargo bikes, will help us move more customer orders across our fulfilment network with zero exhaust emissions. This is a win for our customers, the environment, and our business.”
The initiative signals a major step forward for the UK’s logistics sector in its journey towards a cleaner, greener future.
