Amazon has announced its first UK micromobility hub for more sustainable deliveries in central London, with e-cargo bikes and walkers working alongside its electric fleet.
The company plans to make over five million deliveries a year from the Hackney-based hub, covering more than 10% of the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.
“Our new e-cargo bikes, walkers and growing electric vehicle delivery fleet will help us make more zero emission customer deliveries than ever before across London and the UK,” said John Boumphrey, UK country manager, Amazon
Working with the London Borough of Hackney, Amazon created this new hub with plans to make more than one million customer deliveries every year, adding to the millions of deliveries already being completed by its electric vans. The new fleet of e-cargo bikes and walkers will directly replace thousands of traditional van trips on London’s roads and reduce traffic congestion.
Amazon has over 1,000 electric delivery vans on the road in the UK. Its fleet of zero emission vehicles will expand further as more e-cargo delivery hubs are expected to launch across UK in the coming months. Amazon also recently announced five new fully electric Heavy Goods Vehicles. These 37-tonne vehicles are among the first in the UK, the first in Amazon’s fleet, and replace traditional diesel trucks.
Furthermore, Amazon unveiled plans to roll out large scale solar panel installations at facilities based in Manchester, Coalville, Haydock, Bristol and Milton Keynes before the end of this year, to help power those facilities with renewable energy. Amazon will double the number of on-site solar energy projects in the UK by 2024.
These initiatives move the company closer to its Shipment Zero mission – to deliver 50% of Amazon shipments with net-zero carbon by 2030 – and the ultimate goal of being net-zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
Trudy Harrison, Transport Minister, added: “Industry and government are both working hard to achieve our net zero goals and support the growth of sustainable transport that will help create economic opportunities and support thousands of jobs across the UK.
“Amazon’s plans will not only boost green job opportunities, but ensure that customers will continue to receive their packages while working to protect our planet from climate change.”
