Amazon announces its largest order for electric trucks

Amazon announced this Tuesday its largest order for heavy-duty electric vehicles to date, with more than 200 eActros 600 trucks from Mercedes-Benz Trucks. This move is part of Amazon’s commitment to The Climate Pledge, which seeks to achieve the net zero carbon emissions by 2040a decade earlier than stipulated by the Paris Agreement.

The new electric trucks will be integrated into the Amazon transportation network in Europe, specifically in the United Kingdom and Germany. These zero-emission vehicles will be used on long-haul routes, transporting trailers between fulfillment centers, sortation centers and Amazon fulfillment stations. These trucks are expected to transport more than 350 million packages per year once operational.

The Charging infrastructure is a crucial challenge for the expansion of electric trucks in Europe. Amazon plans to install 360 kW electric charging points in strategic locations, capable of charging the battery of 40-tonne trucks from 20% to 80% in just over an hour. Additionally, it will collaborate with various stakeholders to support the installation of more external charging points in locations suitable for long-distance travel.

The eActros 600, the model chosen by Amazon, is the flagship of Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ long-haul electric trucks. With a battery capacity of more than 600 kilowatts/hour and a range of 500 kilometers without rechargingthis truck represents a solid alternative to diesel vehicles. Mercedes-Benz Trucks has recently started production of this model, which will also be enabled for the MCS ultra-fast charging system.

Andreas Marschner, Vice President of Sustainability of Amazon Global Operations, highlighted the importance of this order: “This order for more than 200 electric trucks underlines our commitment to be leaders in the electrification of heavy goods transport in Europe. This is Amazon’s largest order for electric heavy-duty trucks to date anywhere in the world and is an important step in our effort to deliver on our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions in our operations by 2040“.

For her part, Karin Rådström, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG, expressed her satisfaction with Amazon’s choice: “We are very pleased that Amazon, a pioneer in the transformation towards alternative propulsion, has chosen the eActros 600, a revolutionary vehicle for sustainable transportation. Our eActros 600 is a solid alternative to a diesel truck, thanks to its range of 500 kilometers on a single battery charge. With its high energy efficiency, it will be profitable for fleet operators.”