“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
C.S. Lewis
Lately, when I’m walking in my neighborhood and see a blue van with a smile on the side, I smile too. Why? Because they are now electric. Like many people, I have complicated feelings about the omnipresence of Amazon; but their move toward EVs is a positive step. For lots of reasons, delivery vehicles are prime candidates for an electric upgrade.
Because delivery trucks and vans make constant stops in urban and suburban areas, they don’t tend to drive long distances. Despite this fact, they are running all day. When idling at lights and drop-offs, traditional vehicles continue to burn gas and emit exhaust (CO2). They are also loud, smelly, and pollute the air.
Reasons electric delivery vehicles make perfect sense:
- No tailpipe emissions
- No air pollution
- No fuel required
- Low maintenance costs
- Quieter than gas vehicles
An electric upgrade
In 2019, Amazon co-founded and joined The Climate Pledge, making a bold commitment to be carbon neutral (net-zero emissions) by 2040. Today, 500 companies around the globe are now signed on to the pledge. Among the strategies to get there, Amazon plans to electrify their entire fleet of delivery vans – a whopping 100,000 – by 2030.
Other delivery companies are also working to electrify their fleets. Fed Ex has a similar goal of a fully electric fleet by 2040. Not to be left behind, UPS is in the process of switching to EVs as well, although they haven’t announced a completion date. However, they have pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2050.
You may now be wondering, what about the monster of all delivery operations: the USPS? Because of all the reasons above, electric postal vehicles are a no-brainer. For a massive government organization, a change like this equates to turning the Titanic, but the postal service has begun the process. The plan is to have 66,000 EVs in operation by 2028. With over 230,000 mail trucks, the shift won’t happen overnight, but at least they’re on the right path.
Imagining a better future
Just imagine how nice it will be when all delivery trucks are quiet and exhaust-free. This is one of the countless examples where cutting carbon emissions isn’t just good for the climate, it’s good for all of us…our health, air quality, and peace. The companies and their drivers will reap benefits too. Winners all around.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.