American multinational tech giant Amazon has just instigated a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) global last mile fleet program in India to aid 300+ Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) in shifting to zero tailpipe emission deliveries.
“We’re excited to launch our last mile fleet programme in India and to launch with a 100% electric fleet is a global first for us. These vehicles will raise the bar for last mile delivery services, helping us deliver packages to our customers safely, reliably and efficiently.”
Tom Chempananical, Director Global Fleet and Products, Amazon
Program details
According to the press release, Amazon’s global last-mile fleet program will provide lease schemes to DSPs for customized electric three-wheelers via a fleet management firm.
In addition, it will offer extensive support to its DSPs, such as electric vehicle charging, maintenance, and parking.
In effect, DSPs will be able to shift to eco-friendly vehicles designed specifically for Amazon delivery operations. Apart from these, these three-wheeler EVs also feature telematics and safety technologies to support real-time performance tracking.
It is worth noting that the company has already kicked off this program in North America and Europe as part of its global expansion and environmental targets.
“We are committed to be net-zero carbon by 2040, and decarbonising our delivery network is an important part of getting us to that goal. By launching the last mile fleet programme with an all-electric fleet in India, we help our delivery service partners decarbonise with us – and we’re delighted that India is the first country where we are able to do this.”
Abhinav Singh, VP of Operations, Amazon India
Program expansion plan: Phase 1 headway
Amazon further aims to expand the program with more last-mile delivery vans in the next two years.
Phase I saw the company deploy Mahindra’s Zor Grand three-wheeler EVs that boast customized upgrades for Amazon’s last-mile delivery operations. For context, it has an all-electric powertrain with zero-emission generation, unlike traditional vehicles. It also has a 170 cubic feet delivery box and a 400kg payload capacity to support manageable daily deliveries. It also has a top speed of 50kmph and a driving range of more than 100km between charges.
“We are excited to be a part of Amazon’s journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable future in last mile logistics. With zero tailpipe emissions and reliability at the core, our Mahindra Zor Grand will not only enhance cargo delivery efficiency but also contribute to improved air quality and lower driver fatigue.”
Suman Mishra, MD and CEO of Mahindra Last Mile Mobility
Amazon’s electrification progress
Amazon already has over 6,000 all-electric vehicles in its delivery fleet across 400+ Indian cities, owing to the major support of industry players like Mahinda Electric.
These advancements enable Amazon to accelerate the achievement of its target of deploying 10,000 EVs in India by 2025, as asserted by Car and Bike.
Amazon noted in the press release that The Climate Pledge, which it co-founded with Global Optimism, has previously announced an investment of $10 million to C40 cities for Laneshift implementation.
For those unaware, this initiative primarily seeks to initiate the growth of medium and heavy-duty ZEVs and the expansion of charging infrastructure throughout major Latin American and Indian cities, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune.
All these efforts are part of Amazon’s wider strategy to shift away from polluting traditional vehicles and reach its goal of having 100% renewable energy-based operations globally by 2025.
