changeadminFor all food delivery and e-commerce companies, one major component of their business model is making efficient and fast delivery. These companies majorly rely on fuel-based vehciles to operate their logistic fleet, which evidently compromises the environmental aspects. In recent times, there is a concerted effort by the food delivery giants and e-commerce companies to operate more sustainably.
All the major Indian e-commerce companies have started making efforts to go pollution-free and contribute towards the creation of a robust electric vehciles ecosystem.
Swiggy
Bengaluru-based food delivery giant Swiggy has signed an agreement with Reliance BP Mobility Limited to build an EV ecosystem and battery-swapping stations every few kilometers. This partnership between two leading industry players aims to synergize their strengths in creating a greener and cost-effective solution for delivery fleets.
Over the last two years, Swiggy explored various models to determine what would make EV adoption easier and more profitable for its delivery partners.
Swiggy’s delivers millions of orders, where each delivery executive could travel an average of 80-100 km every day. Depending on the type of 2 wheeler used by the delivery executive, per month fuel expense could be in the range of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000.
Switching to electric vehciles is expected to lower the running cost of vehicles by up to 40 percent, leading to higher earnings for delivery partners. A single pre-charged battery enables a commute of almost 65-80 kilometers.
Battery swapping itself will take less than five minutes, ensuring lesser waiting time and more deliveries and earnings for the delivery partners. The company will also train the delivery partners on how to use the vehicles, the swapping stations, and apps that monitor battery performance.
In addition, Swiggy has partnered with Hero Lectro, a leading e-cycle manufacturer, and Fast Despatch logistics to deploy electric cycles for last-mile deliveries. The trails are currently running in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Hyderabad.
Hero Lectro Cargo e-bikes can travel at a maximum speed of 25 km ph with a range of 70-75 km per charge- making them ideal for short-distance deliveries. In addition to being pollution-free, the advantage of e-cycles is that they do not need immediate swapping or recharging when the battery runs out. They can be charged on regular plug points or continue running on pedal power.
Zomato
Gurugram-based food aggregator Zomato has joined Climate Group’s global electric mobility initiative and it will be converting its entire delivery fleet to electric by 2030.
Few of the Zomato delivery partners operate electric vehicles in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
Amazon
E-commerce giant Amazon India has also partnered with Mahindra Electric to add more electric vehicles to its delivery fleet in the country. In 2020, Amazon India had announced that its fleet of delivery vehicles would include 10,000 EVs by 2025.
Flipkart
Bengaluru-based e-commerce player Flipkart has also planned to have a fleet of more than 25,000 electric vehicles by 2030. The company aims to transition its entire logistics fleet across cities to green energy vehicles.
Flipkart partnered with EV makers such as Hero Electric, Mahindra Electric, and Piaggio to make customized vehicles, and has started with deploying more than 450 EVs across select cities.
Wrapping Up
The delivery and e-commerce companies must continue to work towards driving the adoption of Electric Vehciles as a part of overall efforts to transition to sustainable and environment-friendly mobility. Swiggy’s, Zomato’s and Flipkart’s commitment to this direction is a welcome step for a sustainable future.
Add comment