Eicher Trucks and Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), has revealed a strategic partnership with Amazon to advance the electrification of Amazon’s last-mile and middle-mile delivery services within India. This venture between VECV and Amazon marks a momentous step forward, with the ambitious goal of integrating as many as 1,000 state-of-the-art, emission-free electric trucks across different payload segments into Amazon’s delivery network over the upcoming five years. These vehicles will be rolled out in collaboration with Amazon’s transport service associates.
As an initial phase of this collaboration, Amazon will gradually introduce 50 Eicher electric trucks in key hubs such as Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram within the forthcoming months. Eicher’s electric trucks, featuring advanced digital functionalities, will be constructed upon their well-established electric vehicle platform that is already operational in the realm of bus applications. These trucks, with deck lengths spanning approximately eight to 24 feet, will be outfitted with tailor-made cargo stacking arrangements. Both rapid and standard charging alternatives will be furnished to cater to specific operational requisites.The service solution also takes into account the accessibility of charging infrastructure, operational demands, time constraints for charging, battery capacity, and holistic energy management strategies for the entire 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.
In line with its endeavors to encourage the adoption of electric transportation throughout its nationwide network, Amazon has effectively integrated electric vehicles (EVs) into its delivery fleet by collaborating with delivery service partners across over 400 cities in India. The partnership between Amazon India and Eicher reinforces Amazon’s pledge to attain carbon neutrality by 2040. This collaboration also showcases the mutual dedication of both entities to stimulate innovation and harness cutting-edge technologies in order to construct a more ecologically balanced tomorrow.
