Delhi to Launch EV Delivery Services for Online Orders

The Delhi government announced its first electric vehicles (EVs) freight pilot at the inauguration on Wednesday of the Urban Mobility Lab workshop to promote innovation in clean and sustainable mobility. Under this program, up to 1,000 EVs in 12 months will reportedly be deployed in the capital to deliver online orders. The Urban Mobility Lab is an initiative of Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) and the non-profit group Rockey Mountain Institute (RMI).

Delhi’s Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot made the announcement. “Over 30 players in last-mile urban delivery from across India have come together in Delhi as part of the Urban Mobility Lab with the goal of piloting up to 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs) for urban deliveries in the city over the next 12 months,” the government said in a statement.

The pilot is reportedly the first-of-its-kind project with an objective to rigorously analyse the performance of EVs for urban deliveries. Gahlot said that this is a part of the government’s aim to transform Delhi to EV capital of the country. “To make life easier and better for the common man, it is critical that the cost of EVs come down. We are willing to work with all stakeholders in the industry and resolve any hurdles that they face in the rollout of EVs in the city,” he said.

“Delhi aims to become the EV capital of India. Electrification of last-mile delivery vehicles has the potential to kick-start the transition to EVs in the city. We expect this pilot to pave the way for other market segments and are committed to its success,” said Jasmine Shah, the DDC vice chairperson.

Dave Mullaney, the director of RMI global freight transport initiative, said the use of EVs for last-mile delivery is ready to take off.

“The participants who are working with us and their excitement to be on this pilot shows that clearly. It is an incredibly exciting group that includes titans of Indian industry, global e-commerce giants and brand new homegrown startups,” Mullaney said.

The participants in the pilot working group include big names from different industrial segments such as Amazon, Grofers, Zomato, Amplus Solar, Areon, Blue Dart Express, Altigreen PL, Hero Electric, Shigan Evoltz, Mahindra Electric, Delta group, Charge-Zone, BSES, Tata Power and others.