Indian battery swapping company Battery Smart today announced its partnership with Zepto, an e-grocery and quick commerce service. The partnership will allow the delivery partners of Zepto 1000 battery swapping service points. Battery swapping refers to system where a consumer swaps his discharged batteries with a charged batteries from battery swapping centres to reduce the downtime needed to charge batteries.
The company said that the battery swapping centres can allow the delivery partners to swap their batteries within two minutes. The partnership is likely to benefit the Zepto delivery partners in 30 Indian cities. A statement from the company said that the move would empower Zepto to deploy 10,000 new electric vehicles to its fleet in FY 2024-25.
Recognising the significant economic and environmental advantages of transitioning to electric mobility, an increasing number of last-mile delivery partners in India are strategically electrifying their two and three-wheeler delivery fleets. Currently, EVs
hold a notable 20% share in India’s last-mile delivery market, a trend that aligns with the Government’s target of achieving 30% electrification of the country’s vehicle fleet by 2030.
Commenting on the association, Yogiraj Gogia, Senior Director of Partnerships and Fleet Business, Battery Smart,
said, “We are thrilled to partner with Zepto to enable greener last-mile deliveries and empower more delivery partners to join the EV revolution. Zepto’s growth over the past year has been remarkable, and now, with access to our growing network
of swap stations, we look forward to seeing it scale even further by deploying more EVs to its fleet.”
Through this partnership, Battery Smart and Zepto will facilitate a transition to electric vehicles for both existing and new delivery partners. Partners can take advantage of the reduced capital expenditure involved in purchasing an EV without a battery
and instead utilise Battery Smart’s Battery-as-a-service (BaaS) model, which will significantly enhance affordability and accessibility to electric mobility.
“At Zepto, we are committed to electrifying our vehicle fleet for more efficient and sustainable last-mile deliveries. Our association with Battery Smart gives us access to the country’s largest network of battery swapping stations, ensuring our delivery
partners are always in proximity to a swap station, with zero wait time. This will also empower partners to save time, complete more deliveries, and ultimately increase their earnings,” added Vikas Sharma, COO, Zepto.
With a nationwide footprint, Battery Smart has set up stations in Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities across Haryana, NCR (National Capital Region), Karnataka, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and most recently, Maharashtra.