Flipkart to use 25,000 EVs, ties up with Hero, Mahindra and Piaggio

Flipkart, India’s home-grown e-commerce marketplace, today announced plans to deploy more than 25,000 electric vehicles by 2030. This is in line with Flipkart's plan to transition to EVs across its city logistics fleet and help set up charging infrastructure around delivery hubs and offices to fast track the adoption of EVs in India.

Flipkart says it has already started deploying two- and three-wheeler EVs in multiple locations for delivery in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati and Pune, to name a few. The company has partnered with Hero Electric, Mahindra Electric and Piaggio for specific vehicles to be deployed for its first- and last-mile delivery fleets across the country.

The e-commerce player will also place requirements in service contracts, install charging infrastructure close to its 1,400 supply chain facilities, conduct awareness programs, and encourage delivery executives to use EVs.

Amitesh Jha, SVP Ekart and Marketplace, Flipkart said, “Electric mobility can benefit multiple ecosystem stakeholders, not just in e-commerce but in many other industries. Electrification of the logistics fleet is a key part of Flipkart’s larger sustainability goal and in line with our commitment to the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative. In this journey of making our logistics fleet completely electric by 2030, we will collaborate and work with leading local players to procure and deploy electric vehicles while supporting the required infrastructure growth. We understand the relevance of electric mobility in achieving both business and sustainability goals and are committed to paving the way for greater adoption of EVs across the country.”

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Flipkart will use Hero Electric’s Nyx series (HX and LX variants) scooters which offer a range of up to 150km per charge. These vehicles have already been deployed through Flipkart’s logistics deployment partner in multiple cities across India. According to Sohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric, “The partnership with Flipkart is a game-changer and will help transform a significant number of their fleet to EVs, and encourage the e-commerce industry to actively adopt EV.”

Mahindra Electric is to supply the Treo Zor, which offers best-in-industry power of 8 kW, best-in-class torque of 42 Nm, highest-in-class payload of 550kg, optimum range and the longest-in-industry wheelbase when compared with diesel and electric cargo three-wheelers,. Mahesh Babu, MD and CEO, Mahindra Electric Mobility, said, “We are happy to see that Flipkart has quickly adopted EVs in its fleet. Together, we are committed to providing a clean, sustainable and affordable last-mile delivery solution with our Treo Zor across the country.”

From Piaggio comes the Ape’ E Xtra FX, which is designed to be the most powerful in its category with advanced battery technology and superior customer experience. Speaking on the association, Diego Graffi, chairman and MD, Piaggio Vehicles said, “Ape, a brand with a trust of more than 30 lac happy customers, is paving the way for the Indian electric revolution with the FX range of electric vehicles. The Piaggio Group has a rich heritage of developing electric technology over the last one-and-a-half decades, and we are happy  to partner with Flipkart  in its journey to transition to electric mobility.”

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