Amazon and Eicher collaborate to deploy 1,000 electric trucks over 5 years in India

Eicher Trucks and Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), has announced a partnership with Amazon to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks across different payload categories for middle-mile and last-mile deliveries in India. Middle-mile transportation involves moving shipments between Amazon facilities, and last-mile transportation delivers packages directly to customers. As per the official statement, this collaboration aims to introduce up to 1,000 electric trucks into Amazon’s delivery operations over the next five years, working in conjunction with Amazon’s transport service partners.

– The trucks will come in various deck lengths ranging from approximately 8 to 24 feet, offering customizable cargo stacking configurations. Moreover, they will support both fast and slow charging options, catering to the diverse operational needs of the trucking activities. The deployment plan has been carefully designed, taking into account factors such as charging infrastructure availability, operational demands, battery capacity, charging time constraints, and overall energy management strategies for the fleet.

– As the initial step of this collaboration, Amazon plans to deploy 50 Eicher electric trucks for both middle-mile and last-mile deliveries in major cities such as Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram by the end of 2024.

– These electric trucks will be built on Eicher’s existing electric vehicle platform.

Vinod Aggarwal, the Managing Director and CEO of VECV, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Amazon as we begin pilots for Amazon’s e-commerce deliveries in Indore, Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram. This partnership reflects our commitment to promoting smart sustainable solution and developing a zero-emission transport ecosystem.”

Abhinav Singh, VP of Customer Fulfilment, Amazon Transportation Services, Global Specialty Fulfilment, and Supply Chain at Amazon India, said, “We are proud to work with key partners to lead the way in the electrification of a wide range of vehicles within our delivery operations. At this scale, there is no established playbook for fleet transformation, but we are making progress through collaborations like this one to transform our network. We remain committed and are well on our way to integrate 10,000 EVs into our delivery fleet in India by 2025. We continue to invite fellow innovators and solution providers in the electric mobility and sustainable transportation space to join us in accelerating decarbonisation of the logistics industry.”

“The collaboration between Amazon and Volvo Eicher marks a significant milestone in the collective effort to decarbonize freight transportation, heralding a pivotal step in advancing electric mobility in India. As an integral part of our e-FAST program, this partnership promises to yield invaluable insights for the broader electric mobility sector in the country. By embracing such initiatives, we pave the way for a sustainable and environmentally conscious future,” said Shri Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha, Adviser, NITI Aayog.

This collaboration has broader implications as it corresponds with Amazon’s goal of attaining net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. To contribute to this objective, Amazon has integrated electric vehicles (EVs) into its delivery operations in more than 400 Indian cities, working alongside delivery service partners. The partnership between Amazon and Eicher underscores their mutual commitment to innovation, technological progress, and the pursuit of a more environmentally responsible future.

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