These custom electric delivery vehicles will also be tested out in 15 additional cities through 2021.  -  Photo: Amazon

These custom electric delivery vehicles will also be tested out in 15 additional cities through 2021.

Photo: Amazon

Amazon has started testing the use of Rivian electric vans on delivery routes in Los Angeles, the company announced.

These test deliveries come a little more than one year after the company announced it had purchased 100,000 custom electric delivery vehicles from Rivian, according to Amazon.

These custom electric delivery vehicles will also be tested out in 15 additional cities through 2021.

"We're loving the enthusiasm from customers so far—from the photos we see online to the car fans who stop our drivers for a first-hand look at the vehicle," said Ross Rachey, director of Amazon's Global Fleet and Products. "From what we've seen, this is one of the fastest modern commercial electrification programs, and we're incredibly proud of that."

Amazon and Rivian began testing vehicles four months prior to making customer deliveries, as part of the testing and development process, Amazon said. Future testing will further look at vehicle performance and safety durability in various climates and geographies.

"This milestone is one example of how Rivian and Amazon are working toward the world of 2040, and we hope it inspires other companies to fundamentally change the way that they operate," said RJ Scaringe, Rivian Founder and CEO.

Amazon is also preparing its buildings to accommodate the new fleet of vehicles and has installed thousands of electric vehicle charging stations at its delivery stations across North America and Europe, the company announced.

The current fleet of vehicles can drive up to 150 miles on a single charge, Amazon said. Additional production is slated for the end of this year.

Amazon said it is committed to achieving net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement, in support of The Climate Pledge.

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