Amazon has opened its first UK micromobility hub. The venture will see e-cargo bikes and walkers join the company’s existing electric fleet to make last-mile deliveries. The new vehicles are set to replace thousands of traditional van trips, reducing traffic congestion and emissions across the city. This week, the firm has also started to roll out its electric delivery vans developed in partnership with Rivian across major US cities including Seattle, Baltimore, Chicago and Phoenix.
The new vehicles are set to replace thousands of traditional van trips, reducing traffic congestion and emissions across the city—which operates a 24/7 Ultra Low Emissions Zone and charges polluting vehicles £12.50 ($15) a day to travel inside the 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," John Boumphrey, country manager for Amazon's business across the UK and Ireland, said in a statement.
Amazon workers cycling along the streets on a branded quad bike won't be alone, though. UPS in April began trialing zero-emission eQuad electric bikes in several European cities, the US, and some Asian markets. Boasting a 40-mile range and top speeds of 15.5 mph, the eQuad can carry up to 441 pounds of cargo and is small enough to use bike lanes or enter pedestrian zones.
Amazon is also trying to cut emissions in other areas of its operations in the UK. 30,000 new modular solar panels are going to be fitted on facilities in Manchester, Coalville, Haydock, Bristol, and Milton Keynes by the end of the year. Once operational, the initial 18 on-site solar projects are expected to produce over 13,000 MWh of electricity—enough to power more than 3,500 UK homes each year.
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