Amazon announces UK's largest ever order of electric HGVs
Tue 14 January 2025
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The large online retailer Amazon has announced the UK's largest-ever order of electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs). The company says that more than 200 new eActros 600 vehicles from Mercedes-Benz Trucks will join the company's fleet later this year.
The order is part of Amazon's commitment under The Climate Pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040. In To achieve this pledge, the company says it is working to increase route efficiency, scale zero-exhaust emission and alternative fuel vehicles, and partner with industry and governments to accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure.
The eHGVs will be deployed across high-mileage routes that make up Amazon’s middle-mile network in the UK and Germany, transporting trailers to and from Amazon’s fulfilment centres, sort centres and delivery stations.
The order is particularly significant as commercial vehicles is seen as the most challenging road transport sector to decarbonise due to long range and heavy payload requirements. The Government's £200m ZEHID (zero emission heavy goods vehicles and infrastructure) demonstration programme is showcasing and encouraging the development of promising technologies and infrastructure options.
The need for heavy vehicle charging infrastructure is a key step to bringing more eHGVs to the UK's roads, and is a challenge to scale due to the distance vehicles need to travel, how often and how fast they can charge, and the availability of power in suitable locations.
Amazon says it will install 360kW electric charging points at key sites, capable of charging the battery of the 40-tonne trucks from 20 to 80 percent in just over an hour. It plans to work with stakeholders to support the installation of external charging points in suitable locations to enable longer journeys.
Amazon has also announced the launch of on-foot customer deliveries for the first time, with trolleys that can be restocked while on-the-go.
Nicola Fyfe of Amazon Logistics said: “The combination of our – and the UK’s – biggest ever order of electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), the UK’s electric rail network now being used to transport customer packages, and the launch of restocking on the move on-foot deliveries, all alongside our partners’ fleet of electric vans and e-cargo bikes, will help us move more customer orders across our fulfilment network with zero exhaust emissions."
Future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood MP said: “Business has a crucial role to play in decarbonising our roads, and that’s why it’s fantastic to see Amazon place the UK’s biggest ever order of electric trucks, supported in part by the Government’s £200 million Zero Emission HGV And Infrastructure Demonstrator project.
“This comes on top of our £2.3 billion to help industry and consumers switch to electric vehicles, supporting jobs, attracting investment and making Britain a clean energy superpower.”
Related news: Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme - Progress Summit (6 March, London)
UKRI and Innovate will be holding an event to provide an in-depth overview of the progress achieved across the ZEHID projects supported under the programme. It serves as a platform for key stakeholders to exchange insights and learnings from the work completed to date.
Operators involved in the projects will share their perspectives and experiences, offering valuable practical insights into the implementation and operation of zero emission HGV solutions. They will also share the infrastructure locations for all projects which cover the breadth of the UK as well as sharing the latest standards work that has been completed as part of the programme.
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