Alexa gets behind the wheel! Amazon’s custom electric delivery van will hit the road in 2022

Alexa gets behind the wheel! Amazon’s custom electric delivery van will hit the road in 2022 with sensor detection and the virtual assistant to navigate

  • Amazon has unveiled one of the electric delivery vans it is set to use 
  • The firm expects the customized vehicle will hit the road in 2022
  • It has sensor detection, 360-view cameras and supports Alexa
  • Amazon says it will have 10,000 vans by 2022 and 100,000 by 2030 

Amazon has officially unwrapped its all-electric delivery van ‘packed with state-of-the-art technology.’

The blue vehicle is designed with sensor detection, supports Alexa and includes a ‘dancefloor’ inside the cabin for drivers to move around.

CEO Jeff Bezo first announced the eco-friendly vans in 2019 as part of Amazon’s climate plan, called the Climate Pledge, which is a commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040.

The e-commerce giant is set to unleash 10,000 electric vans to make deliveries ‘as early as 2022’ and will have a total fleet of 100,000 by 2030.

 

Amazon has officially unwrapped its all-electric delivery van ‘packed with state-of-the-art technology’

Cutting emissions is a challenging goal for the online retail giant, which delivers 10 billion items a year and has a massive transportation footprint.

However, Bezos does not seem determined by his company’s output and vowed meet the goals of the Paris climate accord 10 years ahead of schedule.

Amazon first rolled out an all-electric rickshaw in India earlier this year, with plans to have 10,000 roaming the country’s streets.

The latest announcement unveiled a more traditional delivery van, which the firm purchased through Rivian, a US automaker and automotive technology firm.

The blue vehicle is designed with sensor detection, supports Alexa and includes a 'dancefloor' inside the cabin for drivers to move around, along with shelving for packages

The blue vehicle is designed with sensor detection, supports Alexa and includes a ‘dancefloor’ inside the cabin for drivers to move around, along with shelving for packages

Ross Rachey, director of Amazon’s global fleet and products, said: ‘When we set out to create our first customized electric delivery vehicle with Rivian, we knew that it needed to far surpass any other delivery vehicle.’

‘We wanted drivers to love using it and customers to feel excited when they saw it driving through their neighborhood and pulling up to their home.’

Amazon notes that the van revealed Thursday is just one of three models it is working on developing with Rivian.

The van is bright blue, with the iconic Amazon logo displayed on each side.

It is equipped with cameras that provide drivers with a 360-degree view outside the vehicle.

The e-commerce giant is set to unleash 10,000 electric vans to make deliveries 'as early as 2022' and will have a total fleet of 100,000 by 2030

The e-commerce giant is set to unleash 10,000 electric vans to make deliveries ‘as early as 2022’ and will have a total fleet of 100,000 by 2030

Alexa will also be along for every ride providing access to route information and weather updates

Alexa will also be along for every ride providing access to route information and weather updates

Alexa will also be along for every ride providing access to route information and weather updates.

‘We are working to advance and implement the technology that will support these vans—ranging from the physical charging infrastructure to enhancements and optimization of our delivery stations,’ said Rachey.

Amazon currently operates hundreds of electric vehicles worldwide and has invested in electric vehicle charging stations for its partners to use, with plans to expand this infrastructure.

The company announced that it is adding 1,800 electric delivery vehicles this year to its fleet in Europe and is also 10,000 more electric delivery vehicles to its fleet in India, operating in over 20 cities by 2025.

In the EU, Amazon also uses e-cargo bikes for deliveries in some urban centers and operates 200 e-cargo bikes in the New York City area.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk