Retail and technology giant Amazon has placed the “largest ever” order of electric trucks for its UK fleet.
As part of what the company is calling the UK’s biggest electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) order, more than 140 new electric Mercedes-Benz Truck eActros 600 trucks and eight Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks will join Amazon’s transportation network over the next 18 months.
The eHGVs will deliver products to and from fulfilment centers, sort centers and delivery stations, and deliver to customers.
To support the electric fleet, Amazon will install fast charging infrastructure across key UK sites, including 360kW electric charging points capable of charging the 40-tonne Mercedes-Benz trucks from 20 to 80 per cent in just over an hour.
Public charging infrastructure does not support the high power requirements of eHGVs, and even if it could, HGV fleets cannot take unplanned stops along a route. As such, where and when an eHGV will charge has to be strictly accounted for across depot, public and destination locations.
Amazon participated in the UK government’s zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme (ZEHID), funded by the Department for Transport and coordinated in partnership with Innovate UK. Funding through the ZEHID programme will cover around 20 of the Mercedes-Benz trucks and eight Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks.
The company is continually expanding electric deliveries across UK city centres, with recent electric cargo bike launches in Belfast and Norwich joining existing partner fleets in London, Manchester and Glasgow.
Read more: Current+
