BigBasket now to transport products on electric vehicles

Supporting its environment-friendly initiatives, online grocery retailer BigBasket has signed on a range of electric vehicles to increase efficiencies and cut down on operating costs.

The company, which is expected to close a fresh round of funding with participation from International Finance Corporation and others, has recently signed on multiple pilots with electric vehicle manufacturers for a delivery overhaul.

Hari Menon, cofounder of BigBasket said that he is happy to invest in capital expenditure for the company’s green initiatives as they bring down the operating costs over time apart from increasing efficiencies. This is what the company has raised capital for, which has been piloting the environment-friendly initiatives through its Innovation Team.

He said that the capital allocated for the initiative will be decided on the outcome of the pilots.

Hyderabad-based Gayam Motor Works has signed up with the grocery etailer to pilot its electric autorickshaws in Vizag and Vijaywada.

If successful, the three-wheelers will be used for deliveries across tier-2 cities where

BigBasket has a presence. Rahul Gayam, cofounder of Gayam Motorworks said that it is the first order for their electric autos, which give a mileage of 100 to 110 km for three-hour of charge. His entity has been working on the prototype for three years now.

The company had also partnered an electric four-wheeler manufacturer for delivery in Delhi which is currently in the pilot stage, apart from an electric two-wheeler company to pilot deliveries for its 1-hour express delivery service.

Menon of BigBasket said that two of their company’s initiatives should go live. One is the use of solar power in the Bengaluru warehouse, which the company planned on scaling to all of their 8 large warehouses across the country. Second, is the use of battery-operated segue equivalent vehicle.