Amazon said Friday it had ordered more than 700 CNG trucks to reduce carbon emissions and reduce air pollution from its U.S. delivery fleet.

The new coronavirus epidemic has led to a sharp increase in transport volume in 2020. Compared with 2019, the number of trucks in operation has increased significantly, but the number of passenger cars has decreased significantly. According to the analysis, the increase in the number of trucks on the road means an increase in air pollution, because heavy trucks emit more greenhouse gases than buses.

Federal government data show that most of the freight transportation in the United States is carried out by medium and heavy trucks, which contribute more than 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions of the transportation industry, while they account for less than 5% of the number of road vehicles.

Transportation companies are working to increase the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions. However, compared with ordinary buses, electric vehicles are considered more unsuitable for heavy trucks.

"Amazon is excited about the introduction of new sustainable freight solutions, and we are now testing many new vehicles, including electric vehicles, CNG, etc.," Amazon said in a statement

So far, Amazon has ordered more than 700 class 6 and 8 cngs, according to Amazon. Amazon's sales are up 38% in 2020; it plans to become a carbon neutral company by 2040.

The engines for the CNG powered trucks are provided by a joint venture between Cummins and Canada's Westport fuel systems, which will be used by Amazon for transportation from warehouses to distribution centers.

According to the U.S. energy information administration, carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas combustion are about 27% lower than diesel fuel.

In 2019, Amazon ordered 100000 electric vans from the start-up rivian automotive. The first of these will be delivered this year, when they will take on the last mile of delivery to consumers. Amazon has also ordered 1800 electric vans from Mercedes Benz, which will join Amazon's European delivery fleet.

Other transport companies are also testing ways to reduce carbon emissions. In 2019, UPS announced that it plans to purchase more than 6000 natural gas powered trucks within three years and increase the purchase of renewable natural gas (RNG) to reduce environmental pollution caused by its fleet. (Tianmen Mountain)

Source: Netease technology report, translated by Baidu