How Rivian Is Developing Amazon’s All-Electric Delivery Vans: 100,000 Vehicles By 2030 [VIDEO]

Following an announcement by Amazon (AMZN) that it had ordered 100,000 all-electric delivery vans from Rivian, the e-commerce giant is giving a glimpse into the development of the vehicles.

Amazon, which has invested more than $700 million into Rivian so far, has made a Climate Pledge to meet the Paris Agreement 10 years early as it moves to become net-zero carbon by 2040. The Paris Agreement asks members to reach the same goal by 2050.

In deciding what vehicle would help it reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, Amazon said it realized it needed to create its own customized electric vehicle.

"We're trying to build the most sustainable transportation fleet in the world," Ross Rachey, director of Amazon's global fleet and products, said. "It also needs to be the most functional, the highest performing, the safest."

The delivery vans will be produced in three variants with multiple battery sizes so they can be matched to specific delivery routes. The delivery vans also include a cadre of safety technologies including automated emergency braking, front- and all-wheel drive options, lane keep assist, pedestrian warning system, traffic recognition, and automatic warning system to detect driver distractions. The electric vans will also be equipped with Amazon’s Alexa.

To develop the vans, a series of models were created, including a full-size clay sculpture and the use of virtual reality to simulate the driver’s experience. Amazon’s delivery drivers also gave input into the design of the vehicles.

"We are focused on driving efficiency into every aspect of the vehicle design—everything from cabin heating to driver ergonomics to drivetrain design has been optimized for time and energy," R.J. Scaringe, CEO at Rivian said. "And then the echo effect of this, of causing other logistics players in this space to also look at how they drive up efficiency within their fleet, will have a very large impact."

The Rivian produced electric vans will begin deliveries in 2021. Amazon said it plans to have 10,000 electric delivery vans on the road in early 2022 and all 100,000 vehicles delivering packages by 2030.

The electric vans are being manufactured at Rivian’s Normal, Illinois, plant.

Shares of Amazon stock were up 2.22% as of 3:01 p.m. EST on Tuesday.