Online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) said on Tuesday that it has ordered more than 200 new eActros 600 vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Trucks to deploy in Europe in a bid to electrify its fleet.
What Happened: The trucks will join Amazon’s transportation network later this year, the company said, while adding that they will be deployed across high-mileage routes in the UK and Germany.
The trucks, it said, will transport trailers to and from Amazon’s fulfillment centers, sort centers, and delivery stations. They are expected to transport over 350 million packages every year once fully operational.
“It is the biggest electric heavy truck order by Amazon to date anywhere in the world, and is an important step as we work to achieve our Climate Pledge commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040,” Andreas Marschner, Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Operations Sustainability, said in a statement.
Mercedes Benz Trucks is part of the Daimler Trucks division (OTC:DTGHF).
Why It Matters: The eActros 600 is a long-haul electric truck from Mercedes Benz Trucks manufactured at its plant in Wörth, Germany. It offers an installed battery capacity of over 600 kilowatt hours and a range of 500 kilometers.
Amazon said on Tuesday that it will install 360 kW electric charging points at key sites to ensure there are no hurdles to charging these trucks while also working with stakeholders to support the installation of external charging points in suitable locations.
Amazon is investing more than a billion euros in the coming years to electrify its transportation network across Europe. In May, the company deployed 50 electric heavy trucks in California as well.
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