BigBasket to add 850 e-vans, 2,000 e-bikes by 2020; to induct brands like Hero, Okinawa, Li-on

BigBasket, an online supermarket, will push more electric vehicles (EVs) into service for its last-mile delivery operations across metros. The online grocery currently has 150 e-vans and 50 e-bikes and plans to increase the numbers to 1,000 vans and 2,000 bikes within the next one year. It first introduced Mahindra EVs, e-Supro model, in 2016 for operations in Delhi/NCR.

Over the years, BigBasket has worked with multiple e-van OEMs like Gayam Motors and Euler Motors and certified them for their operations. The company is also introducing e-bikes brands including Hero, Okinawa, Li-on, and Greaves Cotton in its operations. Through the aggressive push for EVs, bigbasket has been able to lower its delivery costs associated with delivery of products, it said.

 
K B Nagaraju, Chief Customer Experience Officer, BigBasket, said, “Apart from undertaking other environment-friendly initiatives, we were the first to introduce electric vehicles for our last-mile delivery operations back in 2016. Our scale and push for sustainable and renewable energy have resulted in tangible savings and a positive contribution towards the environment. Though there has been a significant push for EVs in the recent budget, there is a need to address the issue of bank finance to OEMs and small transporters and individual buyers as long as the vehicles are used for commercial transportation.”

BigBasket said it has operations in 26 cities in India and serves nearly 2.5 lakh orders per day. With the recent funding, bigbasket became the latest entrant to India’s unicorn club. The company said it aims to double its revenue to $1 billion (Rs 7,170 core) by March 2020.