Ceres: “The climate crisis demands we decarbonise transportation”

Amazon and DHL have joined the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance which aims to help companies accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.

Led by Ceres, the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance will help member companies make and achieve bold commitments to fleet electrification, and is expected to boost the electric vehicle market by signaling the breadth and scale of corporate demand for electric vehicles – expanding the business case for the production of a more diverse array of electric vehicle models. It will also provide a platform to coordinate support for policies that enable fleet electrification.

“The climate crisis demands we decarbonise transportation – the highest-emitting sector in the U.S. – and electric vehicles are an essential component of this transition,” said Ceres’ VP of Climate and Energy Sue Reid.

“With companies controlling more than half the vehicles on the road in the U.S. today, they have a tremendous role to play in leading the transition to electric vehicles – both in terms of electrifying their own fleets and in leveraging their buying power to send a strong market signal to automakers and policymakers alike. The Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance is where the rubber hits the road.”

Companies also have a clear economic incentive to electrify their fleets. Electric vehicles present significant benefits to companies, including cost savings on fuel and maintenance, reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, freedom from reliance on volatile oil and gas prices, improved driver safety, enhanced company reputation, and bolstered workforce recruitment and retention.

Ceres launched the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance to address the fact that the electric vehicle market is advancing, but not fast enough to meet the needs of every company.

Kara Hurst, Head of Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon commented: “As part of The Climate Pledge, which includes the purchase of 100,000 Rivian electric delivery vans and a commitment to deliver 50% of shipments with net zero carbon by 2030, we are pursuing the highest standards in transportation sustainability. But we can’t get there alone.

“We’re looking forward to working with fellow Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance members to share best practices to remove carbon emissions from our transportation business.”

“DHL is very excited to be joining the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance as a founding member,” said Mike Parra, CEO, DHL Express Americas. “As part of our commitment to achieve net zero emissions from transport activities by 2050 globally, we have set the ambitious interim target of performing 70% of first- and last-mile operations with green vehicles by 2025. Electric vehicles will play an important role in reaching that target, so we very much welcome the Alliance’s efforts to realise the potential of EVs and accelerate their production and integration into transport networks around the world.”