Amazon launches first fleet of electric delivery vans in Canada

Amazon has rolled out its first fleet of electric delivery vans in Canada as part of its broader effort to decarbonize its transportation network.

The company announced today (Oct. 23) that 50 custom-built electric delivery vans (EDVs) from U.S. manufacturer Rivian are now operating in Greater Vancouver. The vehicles are being used by two local Amazon Delivery Service Partners based out of the company’s Delta, B.C., delivery station.

“Amazon has always been committed to offering the fastest delivery speeds for our customers, and it’s tremendously exciting to now launch our first major initiative targeting the decarbonization of our local delivery fleet,” said Eva Lorenz, vice-president and country manager at Amazon Canada. “We know that investing in solutions that reduce our impact on the environment also has benefits for our customers, employees and business partners.”

The launch represents Amazon’s latest step toward its pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040. The company co-founded The Climate Pledge in 2019 and has committed to deploying 100,000 Rivian-made electric delivery vehicles worldwide by 2030.

“We’re thrilled to launch Amazon’s first custom electric delivery vans in Canada. As we advance our local investments and innovations, this initiative reflects Amazon’s broader mission to build a transportation network that works for our customers, our communities, and our planet,” said Jasmin Begagic, director of Amazon Logistics (AMZL) Canada.

Rivian, which began its partnership with Amazon five years ago, designed the vans to improve safety, driver comfort and environmental performance.

“Today marks an exciting milestone in our five-year history of operations in Canada,” said Tom Solomon, Rivian’s vice-president of B2B growth and business development. “The Rivian electric delivery van is unlike anything else on the market. We’ve engineered this vehicle to be the superior choice for fleets, intentionally integrating safety, comfort and sustainability into every detail.”

The vans include 360-degree visibility, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, collision warnings and technology that integrates Amazon’s delivery workflow with the vehicle’s systems. Additional features include automatic door locking, powered bulkhead doors, ventilated seats and an ergonomically designed cabin.

Amazon says it already has more than 35,000 electric delivery vehicles in service around the world, which have collectively delivered more than 1.5 billion packages.