Amazon to add over 1,000 natgas-powered engines to US fleet

Amazon.com Inc ordered over 1,000 truck engines that run on compressed natural gas to shift its US fleet away from heavy-polluting trucks that run from warehouses to distribution centers.

The engines, supplied by a joint venture between Cummins Inc and Vancouver-based Westport Fuel Systems Inc., can operate on both renewable and non-renewable natural gas.

Natural gas emits approximately 27 percent less carbon dioxide compared with diesel fuel.

According to Amazon, it is excited about introducing new sustainable solutions for freight transportation and is working on testing several new vehicle types including electric and CNG.

The online retailer had ordered 100,000 electric vans from startup Rivian Automotive LLC to be delivered this year for its US operations 1,800 electric vans from Mercedes-Benz for its European delivery fleet.

The coronavirus pandemic caused delivery activity to surge in 2020, with truck volumes exceeding 2019 levels.

Since heavier-duty trucks emit higher levels of greenhouse gases than passenger vehicles, transportation companies are building their stable of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.

Much of the nation’s freight is delivered via medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which account for more than 20% of the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions even though they make up less than 5% of the road fleet, according to U.S. federal data.

Amazon, whose sales soared rose 38 percent in 2020, is eyeing carbon neutrality by 2040.

Other transportation companies are also experimenting with ways to reduce emissions.