Transportation
Delivering for our global customers requires Amazon to rely on a variety of transportation solutions for long and short distances. Decarbonizing our transportation network is a key part of meeting The Climate Pledge by 2040 and making 50% of shipments net-zero carbon by 2030, which is why we’re actively transforming our fleet network and operations.
We use a range of delivery methods to reduce emissions on last-mile routes to our customers’ doorsteps. These include electric delivery vehicles and micromobility technologies that can be used for shorter journeys.
In 2019, we ordered 100,000 custom electric delivery vehicles from Rivian—the largest order ever of electric delivery vehicles. We expanded our European electric delivery fleet with an order for 1,800 electric vans from Mercedes-Benz, a signatory of The Climate Pledge. In India, we’re adding 10,000 electric vehicles built by local manufacturers to our existing fleet. We’re also piloting electric delivery vehicles in other locations, including Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
Our use of micromobility technologies is transforming the way packages are delivered, particularly in urban settings. Our global bicycle fleet includes traditional bicycles and electric bikes connected to cargo trailers that can carry up to 45 packages at a time. More than 400 cargo bikes are used to make deliveries for Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh to customers in Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City.
This was achieved through a combination of electric vehicles, cargo bikes, and carts for deliveries on foot through our Delivery Service Partners, all of which contribute to decarbonizing the last-mile delivery process.
When it comes to transporting goods over longer distances, we rely on transportation by road, rail, air, and water.
In North America and Europe, we increased our total rail load volume and expanded our Amazon and leased rail assets in 2021. We started deploying battery electric trucks across our heavy commercial trucking fleets and began switching to vehicles that use alternative fuel sources, like compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks. As of 2021, we ordered more than 3,000 CNG vehicles, and we’re procuring millions of gallons of renewable natural gas created from waste stocks to power them, significantly reducing carbon emissions and particulate matter pollutants.
We’re also investing in alternative fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel, which reduces carbon emissions in flight up to 20% over standard aviation fuel. Amazon secured more than 5 million gallons of low-carbon aviation fuel in 2020 and agreed to purchase up to 6.5 million gallons in 2021 and 2022.
Partnerships enhance our impact and help support sustainability efforts beyond Amazon. We collaborate with credible, knowledgeable, and innovative industry partners around the world who share our vision.
In 2021, we helped launch coZEV with the Aspen Institute. Through coZEV, Amazon is supporting initiatives to increase the availability of zero-emission technologies and fuels, while gaining support from shipping lines, cargo owners, ports, and other organizations that can enable energy transition.
We also became a founding private sector member of the First Movers Coalition to lead decarbonization of the maritime shipping industry. The coalition brings together global companies to harness their purchasing power and supply chains to create early markets for innovative clean energy technologies. With this launch, we announced our commitment to use ships with zero-emission fuels for at least 10% of the volume of our goods shipped internationally by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
