Flipkart to Deploy 25,000 EVs in Supply Chain, Partners with EV Manufacturers

India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, Flipkart today announced that it is going to deploy more than 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. This initiative has been taken up to achieve its commitment to transit its logistics fleet into EVs and help set up charging infrastructure around delivery hubs and offices to fast track the EV adoption in India after joining the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative. 

Flipkart’s electric fleet will include 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, and 4-wheeler vehicles designed and assembled in India, helping boost the Make in India movement. Additionally, it has partnered with leading electric vehicle manufacturers, including Hero Electric, Mahindra Electric, and Piaggio, for specific vehicles to be deployed for its first and last-mile delivery fleet across the country. 

However, Flipkart has already started deploying electric 2-wheeler and 3-wheelers in multiple locations for delivery across the country, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Pune, etc. 

Speaking on their initiative, the SVP Ekart and Marketplace of Flipkart, Amitesh Jha stated, “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,” Jha added. 

Furthermore, Flipkart 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. 

According to the company, Flipkart has partnered with leading EV manufacturers to add their respective EVs to its supply chain fleet. 

It is going to deploy both variants of electric 2-wheeler of The Nyx series by Hero Electric, speaking of which, the CEO of Hero Electric, Sohinder Gill said, “Hero Electric is committed to its mission of ‘No Emission’, and over the last few months, we have been successful in transforming the last mile delivery solutions from ICE (internal combustion engines) to EVs. 

“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 electric vehicles,” he further added. 

Consequently, Flipkart will be taking the electric 3-wheeler Treo Zor from Mahindra Electric. Recounting this partnership, MD & CEO of Mahindra Electric, Mahesh Babu spoke, “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.”

Lastly, Flipkart is going to deploy Piaggio‘s newly launched electric 3-wheeler, Ape’ e-Xtra FX. “The Piaggio Group has a rich heritage of developing electric technology over the last one & a half decades, and we are happy to partner with Flipkart in its journey to transition to electric mobility,” said Diego Graffi, Chairman & MD Piaggio Vehicles Pvt. Ltd.