Eicher Trucks and Buses, a business division of VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), has announced collaboration with Amazon to further enable the electrification of Amazon's middle-mile and last-mile delivery operations in India. This collaboration aims to introduce up to 1,000 zero-emission electric trucks into Amazon's delivery operations over the next five years.

Amazon will deploy 50 Eicher electric trucks in major hubs like Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram over the coming months. The trucks with deck lengths ranging from approximately eight to 24 feet will come equipped with cargo stacking configurations. Fast and slow charging options will be provided to meet the needs of specific operations. The service solution also factors in availability of charging infrastructure, operational requirements, charging time constraints, battery capacity, and overall energy management strategies of the fleet.

Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO, VECV, stated, "We now begin pilots for Amazon's e-commerce deliveries in Indore, Delhi, Manesar, and Gurugram. This partnership reflects our commitment to promoting smart sustainable solution and developing a zero-emission transport ecosystem."

Abhinav Singh, VP, Amazon India said "At this scale, there is no established playbook for fleet transformation, but we are making progress through collaborations like this one to transform our network. We remain committed and are well on our way to integrate 10,000 EVs into our delivery fleet in India by 2025."

"As an integral part of our e-FAST program, this partnership promises to yield invaluable insights for the broader electric mobility sector in the country. By embracing such initiatives, we pave the way for a sustainable and environmentally conscious future," said Sudhendu Jyoti Sinha, Adviser, NITI Aayog.