Amazon begins installing charging stations in North Texas for electric delivery fleet

Amazon is pushing forward with plans to affect its North Texas delivery fleet, in keeping with a allow filed with the state of Texas.

In early July, the e-commerce large will start building on charging stations at its distribution middle at 10001 South Freeway in Fort Worth. The mission is estimated to value round $1 million and will probably be accomplished by Sept. 9, in keeping with the submitting with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

“We’re working to electrify delivery stations across the country this year and over the next several years to help us support a zero emissions fleet and reach our goal of becoming net-zero carbon across all operations by 2040 as part of our commitment to The Climate Pledge,” Amazon spokeswoman Kate Scarpa stated in a press release.

Rivian delivery automobiles with Amazon branding are anticipated to hit roads as early as this yr. Amazon invested in the electric automobile startup as a part of its $2 billion pledge to chop emissions. It has ordered 100,000 electric vehicles from Rivian and expects round 10,000 of them to be on roads in 2022.

It’s unclear whether or not the charging stations permitted at Amazon’s Tarrant County distribution middle are a part of the corporate’s partnership with Rivian, and the spokesperson for Amazon declined to say on Tuesday whether or not they have been particularly supposed for use with Rivian delivery automobiles.

“Rivian is an important partner for Amazon, and we are excited about the future. Putting 100,000 electric delivery vehicles on the road by 2030 is no small feat, and we remain committed to working with Rivian to make it a reality,” Scarpa stated.

Rivian’s IPO late final yr was one of many largest in historical past, however the troubled electric automobile firm’s inventory worth has plummeted almost 90% since then. It was accountable for quarterly losses incurred by traders Ford and Amazon in latest weeks, and Ford is reportedly able to dump thousands and thousands of shares of Rivian inventory.

Rivian can be entangled in the Georgia governor’s race, the place the historic tax incentives supplied for its $5 billion meeting plant have turn into a flashpoint for debate.

Joining Amazon in electrifying delivery fleets this yr is Plano-based Frito-Lay, which has ordered 40 of Ford’s all-electric eTransit vehicles for a pilot program in Carrollton.