Connect with us

Published

on

Amazon is using a new, proprietary AI solution called Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) to reduce the time and effort it takes for delivery drivers to locate packages in their vans. Is it a game-changer, or more AI VAPR-ware?

Somewhat lost in the hype surrounding the Tesla “We, Robot” event on 10/10 was an AI press release from Amazon that promises to improve the lives of the people who use it today, rather than two years from now.

VAPR makes Amazon delivery drivers’ lives easier by automatically identifying the packages to be delivered at a given stop. The system then project a green “O” on all packages that will be delivered at that stop, and a red “X” on all other packages. When the driver picks up all the “correct” packages, VAPR delivers an audible cue to help ensure no packages get left behind.

Cameras + lasers = easier delivery

I’d like to imagine the system sounds something like, “Good delivery driver, you found the thing! Who’s a good delivery driver? You’re a good delivery driver!”

The VAPR system eliminates the need for delivery drivers to use a phone during the delivery process. As a result, Amazon says its drivers won’t have to spend time organizing packages by stops, reading labels, or manually checking identifiers like a customer’s name or address to ensure they have the right packages in between stops. Instead they’ll just look for a green light, grab the packages, and go.

The Amazon Transportation team says it’s spent hundreds of hours testing VAPR in the field with its drivers to test their early assumptions about the system’s ability to help. In early tests, Amazon saw a 67% reduction in the perceived physical and mental effort of its drivers, and more than 30 minutes were saved per route.

VAPR is set to be installed in 1,000 new Amazon electric delivery vans immediately, with plans to expand the program if those results continue to hold.

With over 390,000 Amazon delivery drivers worldwide and more than 100,000 vans in Amazon’s fleet delivering millions of packages every day, technology like VAPR promises to save time and effort at incredible scale.

Electrek’s Take

Amazon delivery drivers stand to benefit from VAPR; via Amazon.

As someone who is unashamedly and unapologetically pro-labor, I want to celebrate Amazon for making its drivers’ lives easier. That said, Amazon’s constant drive for efficiencies has led to accusations that it abuses its employees.

Court cases against the online retail giant allege that its “harsh work quotas” and “elaborate tracking” make it nearly impossible for workers to veer off course to use a restroom. Leading to trash cans at Amazon fulfillment centers (where drivers begin and end trips) being “frequently overflowing” with bottles of urine that employees have thrown away, according to the lawsuit. It’s a topic we covered in an early HEP-isode of The Heavy Equipment Podcast, which I’ve included (at bottom) out of sheer weirdness, so enjoy that.

Here’s hoping, then, that Amazon uses those extra 30 minutes that VAPR provides to give its drivers better working conditions and the basic breaks their bodies need.

HEP-isode 5 | Wireless Charging, and Piss Jugman

SOURCE | IMAGES: Amazon, via Chain Store Age; Forbes.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Greenlane sweetens electric truck purchases with charging perks

Published

on

By

Greenlane sweetens electric truck purchases with charging perks

Greenlane, which provides public charging infrastructure for electric trucks, just rolled out a new dealer program called “Charge On Us,” which offers $500 in charging credits and six months of free Greenlane Edge subscription access with every qualifying electric truck purchase. The offer applies across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty models. Velocity Truck Centers, one of North America’s largest commercial truck dealers with 65 locations across the US, is the first partner to sign on.

Scott Zeppenfeldt, COO of Velocity, said charging is the biggest unknown for customers considering the switch. “Where to charge, how to support it, and how to pay for it all” often stops fleets from moving forward, he explained. “Greenlane’s ‘Charge On Us’ program removes those hurdles by letting our customers rely on public infrastructure instead of investing time and money in their own charging setup. We’re excited to run pilot programs out of their flagship Colton facility and utilize other sites on their network. This gives us a real-world proving ground to show customers how straightforward electric can be when the charging piece is handled.”

For dealers, the program comes with sales support, marketing resources, and customer service, plus access to Greenlane’s growing public charging network. Dealers also get subscriptions to the network, which makes it easier to run pilots at Greenlane facilities and test the experience with customers. The Greenlane Edge subscription unlocks discounted charging rates, advanced reservation tools, and billing software that can lower the total cost of ownership and streamline freight operations. Fleets also gain access to real-time charging data, route planning support, and consolidated billing.

“As more heavy-duty fleets shift to electric, we need to address the real concerns holding them back: where to charge, cost, and how to deploy charging infrastructure day one,” said Patrick Macdonald-King, CEO of Greenlane. “Our program tackles these issues by providing immediate charging credits, access to high-speed chargers, and our technology ecosystem that delivers a seamless charging solution. Partnering with Velocity helps us scale that impact and make electrification easier for more companies by lowering the cost of entry and complexity of procuring power and deploying infrastructure.”

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Greenlane opened its flagship charging center in Colton, California, in April. The site features over 40 high-speed chargers, including 12 pull-through and 29 bobtail lanes built for medium- and heavy-duty EVs. It also offers driver-friendly amenities like restrooms, wifi, carports, and 24/7 security, plus extras such as office space and parking. The Colton facility sits at the junction of I-215 and I-10 and anchors Greenlane’s I-15 charging corridor linking Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It’s also part of the I-10 corridor, with new sites on the way in Blythe, California, and Greater Phoenix.

Read more: Greenlane launches a second long-haul EV truck corridor pilot


The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Jeep axes the Gladiator 4xe, the plug-in hybrid pickup that we were promised

Published

on

By

Jeep axes the Gladiator 4xe, the plug-in hybrid pickup that we were promised

The Jeep Gladiator 4xe is dead before arrival. Jeep’s plug-in pickup was expected to arrive as a sibling to the Wrangler PHEV, but that will no longer be the case.

Why did Jeep cancel the Gladiator 4xe?

Jeep’s plug-in hybrid pickup was set to arrive this year. As a midsize pickup and one of the best-selling Jeep vehicles in the US, the Gladiator is a perfect fit for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system, right?

It seemed like it, but Jeep maker Stellantis disagrees. According to a report from Automotive News, Stellantis told its suppliers that it’s no longer planning to launch the Gladiator 4xe.

The Gladiator PHEV is the latest vehicle that Stellantis has canceled as it reassesses its product lineup in the US.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

A company spokesperson confirmed the decision with Car and Driver, saying, “As customers’ propulsion preferences for battery-electric trucks continue to evolve, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will no longer include an electrified Gladiator variant in the Jeep lineup.”

Jeep-Gladiator-4xe-hybrid
The 2025 Jeep Gladiator Willys (Source: Stellantis)

The spokesperson added that Jeep has “already begun reinvesting funding to ensure the long-term growth of the Jeep Gladiator and will introduce even more customer-requested factory features, customization, and additional powertrain options in the near future.”

Does that mean an “electrified” option is still in the pipeline? It could. Earlier this month, Stellantis canceled Ram’s all-electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV. It also dropped the base R/T trim from the Dodge Charger EV.

Jeep-Gladiator-4xe-hybrid
2025 Jeep Gladiator NightHawk (Source: Stellantis)

The Ramcharger, a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), will instead take its spot and name (Ram 1500 REV). With the plug-in hybrid Gladiator 4xe canceled, Jeep’s Gladiator could be next in line for an REEV powertrain option.

Until then, Jeep still offers plug-in hybrid Wrangler and Grand Cherokee models, which were the top two best-selling PHEVs in the US in the first half of 2025.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

XCharge NA is now leasing DC fast chargers to small businesses

Published

on

By

XCharge NA is now leasing DC fast chargers to small businesses

XCharge North America (NA) and Ascentium Capital have launched a new leasing program to help small-business owners host DC fast chargers without having to front huge amounts of cash or rely on government incentives.

Businesses can lease XCharge NA’s DC fast chargers – up to 400kW – for an affordable monthly rate. That way, they can tap into the US public DC fast-charging market, which is expected to grow at a 14% compound annual rate through 2040 and generate $3.3 billion in annual market value, without paying steep upfront costs. Unlike charging-as-a-service models, where operators earn a percentage of the revenue, lessees in this program can earn the full charging revenue.

The program is modeled after a financing structure used in the auto industry. It bundles installation, equipment, warranties, and maintenance into a single package to simplify things for business owners. XCharge NA says its GridLink and C6 chargers can also be installed faster than typical fast chargers, and the equipment can be moved to different sites if needed. Because the chargers integrate with existing infrastructure, businesses don’t need to worry about major grid upgrades or transformer installations.

“At our core, XCharge NA has always been focused on making EV charging more accessible for businesses of all sizes – from high-traffic airports to small-business owners,” said Aatish Patel, co-founder and president of XCharge NA. “Our new financing model was designed to mitigate risk for individuals looking to get into EV charging without significant upfront [capital expenditure].”

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Patel added that working with Ascentium brought the financial expertise needed to make the program possible. Stephen Interlicchio, senior vice president of strategic services for Ascentium, said, “This type of flexible capital option is exactly what the industry needs now, especially to empower small businesses and real estate owners that don’t have the ability to pay significant costs up front but are committed to participating in the EV transition.”

Leasing a C6 EV charger (pictured) starts at $800 a month. You can learn more here.

Read more: Texas trailblazes with DC fast chargers with integrated battery storage


The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending