Amazon orders 100K electric delivery trucks from Rivian (techcrunch.com)

Article summary

Amazon has ordered 100,000 electric delivery trucks from Rivian as part of its effort to become carbon-neutral by 2040. The company aims to reduce its climate impact through various means, including the use of solar energy and carbon offsets. The electric trucks will begin deploying in 2021. This order is the largest to date for electric delivery vehicles.

Main themes

• electric vehicles
• carbon neutrality
• sustainable logistics
• climate change
• alternative energy

What commenters say

• The carbon footprint of producing a single electric van is significant, but it is outweighed by the reduction in emissions during its lifetime.
• The overall lifetime carbon footprint of an electric van is lower than that of an internal combustion engine van.
• The production of electric vehicles has a higher upfront carbon footprint, but this is offset by the savings in fuel and maintenance over the vehicle's lifetime.
• Governments can tax electric vehicle owners to offset the loss of fuel taxes, but this may change the cost per mile.
• The shift to electric vehicles will also reduce point source pollution and noise in urban areas.
• Amazon's investment in Rivian and order of electric trucks is a strategic move towards building its own shipping empire.
• The cost of electric delivery trucks is expected to be significant, with estimates ranging from $5-10 billion for the 100,000 vehicles ordered by Amazon.