Amazon Hits Halfway Mark on Sustainable Delivery Network

Online retailer Amazon now operates a global fleet of 50,000 electric vehicles, achieving 50% of its 2030 target.

In addition to prioritising low-carbon power, packaging, and materials, Amazon is electrifying its global transport and delivery fleet.

The company has adopted various transportation modes to deliver goods without tailpipe emissions, including Rivian-designed vans, Mercedes-Benz trucks, electric cargo bikes, and e-scooters.

The decision on which vehicle to use often reflects the geographical needs and demands across Amazon’s global footprint.

“When we set the goal to bring at least 100,000 electric delivery vans (EDVs) to the road by 2030, it was ambitious - and that’s an understatement,” says Kara Hurst, CSO at Amazon.

“Transforming a delivery fleet at Amazon’s speed and scale requires a completely new playbook.

"We collaborated with vehicles manufacturers. We built charging infrastructure needed to power the EDVs. We developed routing models that account for varying geographies and weather patterns.

"Every step requires steadfast innovation from teams of Amazon scientists, engineers, and operations experts – and their work is ongoing! They’re also the reason we’re now more than halfway to our goal.

"Over 50,000 electric delivery vans are now on the road in our global network - and they delivered more than 2.4 billion packages to customers across Europe, the US, and India last year, with zero tailpipe emissions.

"They’re powered by tens of thousands of chargers across our facilities, one of the largest private EV charging networks in Europe and the US. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come by staying the course – and we’re not stopping."

Climate Pledge supports Amazon's net zero goal

Amazon’s sustainability and carbon reduction efforts are supported by its Climate Pledge initiative, a US$2bn programme with Global Optimism to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

The company partnered with EV specialist Rivian to design and deploy 100,000 delivery vans across the US and Europe, with 30,000 already in operation in the US. The company has also introduced more than 600 custom vans in Germany, expanding its electric fleet in Europe.

Amazon is also supporting the installation of EV charging networks to power its electric fleet.

In the US, Amazon has deployed over 50,000 chargers at more than 250 delivery stations.

India electrification plan

Amazon aimed to deploy 10,000 electric vehicles in India by 2025 and surpassed this goal in early 2024.

Last month, Amazon’s Climate Pledge programme launched the National EV Highway Guidance Framework, a roadmap to electrify India’s busiest freight routes starting in 2027.

In partnership with C40 Cities, the plan includes building high-speed charging networks, improving route planning, and supporting small businesses in transitioning to electric fleets.

Road transport moves nearly 70% of goods in India. Although medium- and heavy-duty trucks represent only 3% of vehicles, they account for approximately 53% of emissions.

Amazon enlists Japanese rail network

In Japan, meanwhile, Amazon has started using Shinkansen bullet trains to deliver packages from Tokyo to central and northern regions.

Using high-speed trains is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions from long-distance package transportation between cities.

“This is a unique initiative that uses non-passenger space for transporting packages and enables faster deliveries—symbolising Amazon’s continuously evolving operations,” says Kohei Shimatani, vice president, Japan Operations at Amazon Japan.

“By leveraging Japan’s world-class Shinkansen network, known for its high level of punctuality and speed, we will further advance the decarbonisation of our transportation network. We look forward to delivering packages more quickly and reliably to customers in the Hakodate, Aomori, and Kanazawa areas through a variety of delivery options.”