Laneshift, a groundbreaking collaboration between The Climate Pledge and C40 Cities, aims to transform the landscape of zero-emission freight shipping. With an investment of $10 million from The Climate Pledge, Laneshift will work closely with nearly 100 mayors of leading cities to replace traditional road freight vehicles with electric alternatives and establish new routes that promote sustainability.
Road freight is a significant contributor to air pollution, making it one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. The Global Commercial Vehicle Roadmap highlights the need for widespread adoption of electric trucks by 2030 to achieve the goal of 100% zero-emission commercial trucks by 2040. Laneshift aims to drive this transition by partnering with cities to accelerate the development of electric vehicle infrastructure and deployment.
The project will initially focus on four major Indian cities: Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Pune. These cities will experience numerous benefits, including reduced emissions, cleaner air, the creation of green jobs, and more. Iqbal Singh Chahal, the municipal commissioner and administrator of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), emphasizes the positive impact Laneshift will have on Mumbai and the entire state of Maharashtra.
Latin American countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico will also benefit from Laneshift, aligning with the project’s global scope. Laneshift recognizes the urgent need to address the alarming growth of CO2 emissions from road freight, which surpassed the combined emissions of air, sea, and rail freight in 2020.
By collaborating with stakeholders from the freight industry and cities, Laneshift aims to reduce and avoid greenhouse gas emissions while improving air quality, particularly in vulnerable communities in India and Latin America. The project will serve as a roadmap for the transition to electric vehicles, fostering collaboration and signaling demand across transportation and logistics sectors.
Laneshift is a locally-focused initiative that complements Amazon’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize its transportation network. Amazon already operates over 6,000 electric delivery vehicles in India and plans to increase this number to 10,000 by 2025. In 2022, Amazon’s global fleet included more than 9,000 electric delivery vehicles, resulting in the delivery of over 145 million packages in the United States and Europe.
Partnerships between cities, businesses, and organizations like C40 Cities and The Climate Pledge are essential for decarbonizing the road freight sector. Mayors of C40 Cities are committed to taking a science-based and people-focused approach to combat climate change, limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and build resilient communities.
Laneshift sets a new standard for zero-emission freight shipping by harnessing the power of electric vehicles and collaborative efforts. By striving for greener and more sustainable transportation solutions, Laneshift paves the way for a cleaner, healthier future.
Sources:
– The Climate Pledge
– C40 Cities
– Global Optimism