Amazon Rivian Electric Vans Tested in San Francisco

Amazon Expands Electric Vehicle Deliveries to San Francisco

Amazon is broadening its customer delivery service utilizing electric cargo vehicles, with San Francisco being the latest addition. This makes the Bay Area the second of a planned 16 cities to receive Rivian-sourced EVs in 2021.

Reasons for Choosing San Francisco

The distinctive topography and weather conditions of San Francisco were key factors in Amazon’s decision to select the city for this phase of testing. These EVs, collaboratively designed and manufactured with Rivian, are capable of traveling up to 150 miles on a single charge.

Initial testing of the electric delivery vans commenced in Los Angeles in early February. This initiative is part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge, a commitment to procure 100,000 custom electric delivery vehicles.

Fleet Expansion and Infrastructure Investment

The vans were initially showcased last October, and Amazon anticipates having 10,000 of these vehicles in operation by the following year.

Deliveries in the Bay Area will originate from Amazon’s facility in Richmond, California. This is just one of numerous delivery stations being redesigned to accommodate the new EV fleet.

A recent $200 million investment in a new delivery station located in San Francisco demonstrates Amazon’s dedication to substantially increasing delivery capacity within the city.

Industry-Wide Trend Towards Electrification

“We believe this represents one of the most rapid modern commercial electrification programs, and we are exceptionally proud of this achievement,” stated Ross Rachey, Director of Amazon’s Global Fleet and Products.

Amazon is not alone in recognizing the benefits of electrifying delivery fleets for urban, short-distance routes. DHL reports that 20% of its current fleet consists of zero-emission vehicles.

Furthermore, UPS has placed an order for 10,000 EVs, and FedEx has committed to transitioning its entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2040.

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