Delhi-based
BluWheelz launched its EV fleet as a service (EFaS) operations with an aim to
disrupt and gain its foothold in a highly fragmented market currently marked by
rising demand for EV as a fleet service for last mile delivery for logistics
and e-commerce companies.
At
the launch, the company also announced deployment of 10,000 odd electric two
and three wheeler fleet service for last mile delivery in next one year
spanning 25 Indian cities including tier two and three.
“With
concerns over climate change looming large over the auto industry, rising fuel
costs , unstable oil economy, the existing fragmented delivery fleet services
models will not be able to arrest the abysmally low conversion rate of delivery
fleet vehicles from combustion to electric. The need of the hour is to create
an ecosystem of skilled riders, seamless charging facilities, robust vehicle
lifecycle maintenance and technology to monitor every detail on an App,” said
Chanpreet Sethi, founder, BluWheelz.
The
start-up, which is at present self-financed green-field venture by promoters is
backed by ex Coke India President and ex-CEO Spice Express Sanjiv Gupta.
The
company has signed MoUs with the OEM partners and is in the process of closing
deals with a bevy of e-commerce and logistic companies.
During
the launch, the company also announced its strategic tie-up with leading EV OEM e-Ashwa for procurement of
electric vehicles for EFaS.
“The
fleet size is also expected to increase ten times in a year’s time sensing the
humongous demand from players needing delivery as a service. The market itself
is going to expand to gigantic proportions on the back complete replacement of
existing fleet in next five years”, said Sethi.
The
startup will provide solutions to ecommerce, egrocery, FMCG, logistics and D2C
(direct-to-consumer) companies to minimise and decouple their logistics costs and operations. Talking
about the supply side dynamic, BluWheelz
has joined forces with OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) and financial
institutions to build a complete gamut of EV fleet and related delivery services.
EVs
will become cornerstone for the segment
as ecommerce players look to reduce their logistic costs and carbon footprint.
The rising demand for delivery vehicles from companies such as Bigbasket,
Zomato, Swiggy, and big kirana stores have
complemented the adoption of
two-wheeled EVs.
Talking
about the exponential growth of EV Fleet as a Service (EFaS) , Sethi said, “The rising competition to deliver
faster has led to e-commerce and other delivery players to partner with
mobility players to expand their fleet while still staying lean on resources.”