Eicher and Amazon collaborate to scale electric truck deployment for middle and last-mile deliveries in India
• Eicher
and Amazon aim to introduce up to 1,000 electric trucks from eight to 24 feet
deck lengths into Amazon’s delivery operations over five years.
• The
collaboration represents a significant milestone in introducing the first
electric trucks across various payload categories for Amazon’s e-commerce
delivery operations in India.
Eicher Trucks and Buses, a
business division of VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), has announced
collaboration with Amazon to further enable the electrification of Amazon's
middle-mile and last-mile delivery operations in India. This collaboration
between VECV and Amazon represents a significant milestone by aiming to
introduce up to 1,000 cutting-edge, zero-emission electric trucks across
various payload categories into Amazon’s delivery operations over the next five
years, deployed through Amazon’s transport service partners.
As a first step in the
collaboration, Amazon will progressively deploy 50 Eicher electric trucks in
major hubs like Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram over the coming months. Eicher’s
electric trucks featuring advanced digital capabilities will be built on
Eicher's established electric vehicle platform already in operation in bus
applications. The trucks with deck lengths ranging from approximately eight to
24 feet will come equipped with customised cargo stacking configurations. Fast
and slow charging options will be provided to meet the needs of specific
operations. The service solution also factors in availability of charging
infrastructure, operational requirements, charging time constraints, battery
capacity, and overall energy management strategies of the fleet.
Vinod
Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO of VECV, stated, "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 VECV 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.
Aligning with its efforts
to promote use of electric mobility in its network across the country, Amazon
has successfully deployed EVs in its delivery fleet through delivery service
partners across more than 400 cities in India. The collaboration between Amazon
India and Eicher supports Amazon's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon
emissions by 2040. This collaboration also exemplifies both companies’ shared
commitment to driving innovation and leveraging advanced technologies to build
a more sustainable future.