Amazon’s new delivery van
Amazon
Amazon is now testing its power supply vans in San Francisco, the company announced Thursday.
It is the latest expansion in California of Amazon’s custom electric vehicles developed in collaboration with start-up Rivian Automotive, which has raised about $ 8 billion since 2019 from investors. Amazon announced last month that it had begun testing power supply vans in Los Angeles. The company plans to expand the program to 14 more cities this year.
Amazon said it selected San Francisco as one of the initial cities to test Rivian electric vans because of its “great customers, unique terrain and climate.” Deliveries will initially be made outside of Amazon’s delivery station in the suburb of Richmond, San Francisco, but Amazon expects to begin deliveries soon from other locations in the Bay Area.
“From what we’ve seen, this is one of the fastest and most modern commercial electrification programs, and we’re incredibly proud of that,” said Ross Rachey, CEO of Amazon’s products and fleet. “As we continue to grow and invest in California, we want to do so responsibly, so we’re thrilled that customers in the bay see these vehicles crossing their neighborhood.”
Amazon, which has supported Rivian through its $ 2 billion Climate Pledge Fund, agreed in September 2019 to buy 100,000 electric vehicles from launch as part of its ambitious drive to make the fleet ‘Amazon works completely with renewable energy. Each van has a range of 150 miles per reload.
Since then, Amazon said, it has operated thousands of electric vehicles around the world. In 2020, it said it delivered more than 20 million packages with delivery electric vehicles across North America and Europe.
To make the switch to electric vehicles, Amazon has redesigned its gas stations, adding thousands of electric vehicle chargers. At the moment, Amazon said, the vehicles are being driven by Amazon employees who are specially trained to operate them.
Amazon introduced a version of the electric delivery vans last fall. They feature a smaller design, the well-known Prime brand, and enhanced security features, such as an advanced driver assistance system and exterior cameras that give the driver a 360-degree view of the vehicle.
Amazon is still perfecting the design of its electric delivery vans before production begins, which Rivian plans for the fourth quarter of this year.