25,000 and counting! That’s the number of electric delivery vans Amazon has rolled out across the United States. In 2024, the number sat at 10,000, an impressive number that has doubled in the one year since. It says quite a lot about the efficient scaling Amazon is known for. It says even more about the people driving this effort.
One section of Amazon’s extensive Energy team focuses on electric vehicle (EV) adoption in different sectors of the US. The man leading the development of necessary infrastructure in the north American region is Subhash Chandra.
For over 30 years, Chandra has been involved with battery and EV technology, and he is widely recognized as a leader in the use of this technology in business operations. His work at Amazon continues to pave the way for future efforts in developing and adopting sustainable technology for the good of all. But for all of his accomplishments, it is his confident passion for his chosen field of expertise that draws you into his orbit.
They say you should do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. It seems to be especially true for you, Mr. Chandra.
It is true. I’ve worked with EV battery technology since the beginning of my career. It started with submarines in the Navy- making battery use safer and more efficient. And now its land vehicles. The technology itself has always excited me, both because of its potential scope and leverage. Especially now with our focus on sustainable energy sources. EVs are bringing about a much-needed change with its inherent advantages over internal combustion engines. The current growth trends for EVs make working in this space very attractive to me.
Diving deeper into EVs, why is it the most attractive option?
It ties into the Green Supply Chain concept, where the goal is to minimize one’s carbon footprint at every level of the supply chain network. There are many ways to reach this goal, but EVs are the lowest hanging fruit. It’s easier to focus on the last mile of the supply chain- delivery. It happens in neighborhoods, where vehicular gases impact the air we and our children breathe. That direct impact on people is what makes EVs a good choice to focus on. We can build up the needed infrastructure, the policy frameworks, and the tech development commitments because it’s so impactful.
Eventually, its use will ripple out to other sections of the supply chain, such as processing of raw materials or bulk transportation of end products. And then further out into other industries and the public sphere.
Tell me more about the importance of big companies or institutions crossing these initial hurdles.
The biggest example is from my previous role, focused on operations in California. The California Public Utilities Commission is well ahead of the curve in terms of EV adoption. And so, we were able to follow their guidelines and build upon the precedent they set. Having that support from Utilities across various regions moves us closer to the end goal of ‘Net Zero Emission’. Collaborating with various institutions provides a vision of concrete long-term energy and infrastructure requirements and allows for more accurate investments. Once these support structures are in place, EV adoption will become increasingly easier for everyone.
Your current work spans multiple regions. What is EV adoption looking like in these different locations?
Adoption is definitely not homogenous because some regions are just better suited to it than others. One reason is that EVs are susceptible to climate. Low and high temperatures mean battery time shrinks, which increases charging, aka, energy consumption. In colder climates, the vehicle’s battery and cabin need to be heated up. In hotter climates, it needs to be cooled down. It’s a big deal for commercial vehicles that run 100 plus mile routes per day. But it is a problem for which a solution is not far behind. There are prototypes that bring charging time down from hours to minutes. After that, it’s about commercialization and mainstream adoption.
Another challenge is varying standards in different regions. Differences across state and even county lines. It impacts development of interstate infrastructure and power availability within a specific time frame.
What do challenges look like in other areas of the world?
If North America has issues in its geographically vast expanse, Europe has problems with older city layouts. In countries like Mexico, the excess generating capacity that is essential to EV adoption doesn’t exist. In Southeast Asia, dense population centers mean EV battery tech has to be adapted to two-wheel vehicles. And once again, climate comes into play. The challenges may be different, but the solutions can be inspirational in my work since different regions in North America need differing solutions.
Circling back to your personal interest in EVs. What does it look like in your personal life?
For one, I own and use an EV in my daily life. I keep choosing to work with EVs because I feel very strongly about its adoption in multiple spheres of life. I try to inspire this passion in others as well. Currently, I’m advising an Indian Startup that runs one of the country’s biggest and EV-only app-based ride hailing service.
And as our cities get denser and populations grow larger, we cannot ignore the environmental and health impact vehicular traffic is having on people. I have heard many arguments against EVs. Many don’t realize EV adoption is about shifting your mindset alongside changing infrastructure. We have reached a plateau for internal combustion engines. But EV technology is still in its infancy.
We are seeing exponential growth. And it is an investment for the future, for the next generation, for our country. That’s the greener solution we all need to focus on.
