Amazon UK adds e-cargo bikes, on foot couriers in the interest of decarbonisation

Amazon UK says it will expand its fleet of electric cargo bikes and deliver more goods on foot to speed up the decarbonisation process of the transport network which is used to deliver packages across the country. 

The multinational company, which has around 75,000 stable staff in the UK, said it will add two new small delivery centres in the capital and open one centre in Manchester for more bike and on foot couriers as part of a £300 million five-year investment ($359 million) to electrification and decarbonisation in Great Britain, which was reported in October. 

Amazon is aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and said that together the additional electric bikes, a four-wheeled vehicle with handlebars and a container on the back, and on foot couriers would bring 2 million deliveries in one year. 

In 2021, the company’s couriers riding the electric vehicles delivered more than 45 million parcels. In addition to electric bikes, Amazon already has 1,000 electric vans and five fully electric heavy trucks in the company’s fleet. 

Amazon’s UK manager John Boumphrey said in a statement that these new delivery centres in London and Manchester will not only bring more electric deliveries to their customers, but it will also support local authorities that are looking for ways to reduce traffic congestion and find revolutionary methods of transport.