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The revolution of the EV sector: Etrio

If it is one fact that the entire world has understood in the last few years, it is the fact that we need to start making amends so that the environment that we have destroyed so much has some scope of recuperating. With almost all developed nations now paving the way towards a clean mobility revolution, India has also begun to make the needed changes.

The launch of electric vehicles has set in motion a paradigm shift that will make people more responsible towards the environment and give them the perks of cleaner air and financial security by saving them from the shocks of those constant fluctuating prices of fuel.

The spark that ignited this change was when electric motors replaced the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE). What started as a mere trend is soon to take over the markets entirely by the year 2030. The consumers’ reactions were checked with the launch of the first electric car Reva, which Chetan Maini launched in 2001.

If the trend is to be believed, electric vehicles’ sales have almost quadrupled in the last few years. This has become more evident with the steep decline in the batteries’ prices along with the EV friendly policies that have been introduced as a countermeasure to tighten the fuel emission standards.

According to a Swizz organization IQAir survey, 22 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India. This one major headliner has probably been the main driving force as to why electric vehicles have gained such momentum in India.

With governments of almost every country debating on how to tackle the impending worries of climate change, EVs’ revolution is probably the one thing that can release the pressure to some extent. Along with the much-needed relief that needs to be given to the choking planet, siding with the EV revolution will save the government finances that otherwise get invested in oil subsidies.

In all the recent climate conventions held in Paris, the Prime Minister of India has shown much interest in safeguarding the nation’s interests and the environment. This is why Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) was launched. However, despite all the attempts, it did not see the results that were first expected.

According to a recent report compiled by the Climate Group, it is stated that India is one of the top EV100 regions by the number of charging points present.

With this chalked out now, all India needs are long-term policies that can give more automobile industries the thrust to manufacture more electric vehicles.

Overall, EVs can reduce the quantities of smog which is a significant contributor to the level of pollution that creates havoc all over. Globally, transmissions from vehicles account for 2.5% of the increase in greenhouse gases each year.

In India alone, there are plenty of big automobile names that have pledged to align themselves with the EV revolution taking over the globe. Contrary to everyone’s beliefs, the EV revolution will not be one that will happen without any restrictions.

Large chunks of the automobile bigwigs are going to resist the change by upping the fuel efficiencies to match the strict emission norms set by the policies. This is the precise reason even the most minor step taken by an organization to side with the EV revolution will be a welcome change.

Etrio has the vision to become the leading original equipment manufacturer of electric 3-wheelers that are affordable so that more business owners can switch to them with ease. Considering that the future lies in the hands of those who make the efforts to change it, Etrio is definitely creating waves by attempting to transform the environment along with the lives of businesses that want to switch to the greener mode of commuting.

[etrioindia]

Commercial Electric Vehicle - Etrio

The transportation industry has witnessed a global shift towards electric vehicles, prompting a focus on sustainability and cost savings. As such, various verticals such as Logistics, E-commerce, Agri-logistics, Waste Management, and others are transitioning towards electrifying their fleets to enhance their economic gains. Commercial EV deployments have yielded substantial data-based evidence, demonstrating the significant cost savings and return on investments in EVs. Read more, visit https://etrio.in/the-economics-of-electric-cost-saving-and-roi-in-commercial-ev-adoption/

[etrioindia]

Commercial Electric Vehicle - Etrio

Etrio ELCV- India’s first Electric Truck with unmatched Performance. Intelligent 96 V architecture design | Closed Load Body of 180 Cu. Ft | Certified Range 115 Km, visit https://etrio.in/etrio-elcv/

[etrioindia]

The Economics of Electric: Cost Saving and ROI in Commercial EV adoption – Etrio

The transportation industry has witnessed a global shift towards electric vehicles, prompting a focus on sustainability and cost savings. As such, various verticals such as Logistics, E-commerce, Agri-logistics, Waste Management, and others are transitioning towards electrifying their fleets to enhance their economic gains. Commercial EV deployments have yielded substantial data-based evidence, demonstrating the significant cost savings and return on investments in EVs.

Businesses have recognized the superior Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) as a significant advantage for EV adoption. With rising fuel costs, electric three-wheelers have become more appealing, offering potential savings of up to 70% on operational costs. Early adopters initially favored Electric Vehicles for their environmental benefits, but most fleet operators now prefer them for their superior economics.

The superior economics of EVs are compelling fleet operators towards electric vehicles over traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The three-wheeler electric vehicles have overcome the cost barriers, and the emerging total cost of ownership (TCO) advantage of four-wheeler LCVs and electric trucks is rapidly driving the electrification of cargo fleets in India.

EV operators are realizing substantial TCO benefits, which have become particularly prominent due to the skyrocketing fuel costs. By leveraging EVs, they can save significantly on fuel expenses and vehicle maintenance costs, while also enjoying enhanced residual value. Furthermore, the intelligent features of EV technology enable operators to optimize their load and route planning, further enhancing their bottom line.

Moreover, the Indian Government has outlined a transparent federal plan to reduce the logistics costs in the country and improve competitiveness as a globally recognized manufacturing hub. The transportation cost constitutes a large portion of these logistics costs, which have led to a growing disparity in TCO between ICE vehicles and EVs. Customers are now transitioning towards electric LCVs and trucks for last-mile logistics, and are demanding EV fleet deployments for first-mile and mid-mile transportation requirements.

The adoption of commercial EVs also reduces maintenance costs, as these vehicles have fewer moving parts than traditional vehicles, a longer lifespan, and features such as regenerative braking systems that help cut down brake repair costs. Additionally, commercial EV adoption also offers an opportunity to leverage renewable energy sources to power on-site EV charging infrastructure, which can help businesses gain a sustainable cost advantage. The EVs also depreciate less and have a higher resale value than conventional vehicles, allowing business owners to recuperate a substantial amount of their initial investment.

It’s important to note that not all EV players offer the same cost advantage. There is a variability of TCO between different electric vehicles and providers based on three over-arching factors – advanced technology capabilities, superior customer service resulting in lower down-times, and superior vehicle designs.

The latest technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI)-based intelligent electric vehicle (EV) systems, advanced telematics technology, sensors, and augmented reality (AR), have revolutionized the transportation industry. With these cutting-edge tools, cargo load optimization and route optimization have become more efficient, while end-point recognition has become more accurate, and driver safety has been significantly improved. The integration of these technologies has brought about a new era of innovation and efficiency in the transportation sector, making it easier than ever before to transport goods safely and seamlessly.

Production efficiencies stemming from smart manufacturing practices lead to economies of scale that effectively decrease the per-unit production cost. Streamlining manufacturing processes and placing emphasis on diminished component requirements involved in building electric vehicles contribute to enhanced reliability and diminished maintenance expenses.

Superior vehicle designs incorporate battery systems that are both efficient and lighter in weight, which make up a substantial portion of an electric vehicle’s overall cost. To further improve upon this, manufacturers of electric vehicles are implementing the use of lightweight, streamlined aerodynamic designs that positively impact fuel efficiency, prolong battery life, and ultimately result in cost savings through reduced charging times.

As EV technology matures, the upfront cost differential between an electric vehicle and a traditional gas-powered vehicle continues to reduce, making the economics of deploying electric vehicles inevitable when it comes to commercial fleet adoption.

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Why one of the world’s largest lithium discoveries might be a game-changer for India – Etrio

The world’s fifth-largest economy and possibly now most populous country discovered one of the biggest lithium deposits globally.

That could be a game-changer for the country and help boost its manufacturing sector, as the metal is heavily relied on in the use of batteries for smartphones and electric cars among other items.

India has 20 lithium mining exploration projects nationwide and the Geological Survey of India confirmed the discovery of a 5.9-million-tonne reserve of the alkaline metal in the north of the country.

There are hopes that the find could accelerate the country’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

While the potential is great, industry insiders and analysts have welcomed the news with a measured response.

They say it will be years before the lithium enters widespread commercial use and helps to reduce India’s reliance on imports.

There are a range of challenges to overcome that include the complexity of mining, environmental concerns and the requirement for billions of dollars of investment.

The discovery of the lithium “will take us a step forward on our journey of achieving India’s EV target of 2030”, says Pankaj Sharma, the co-founder and director at Log9 Materials, a Bengaluru-based nano-technology, which makes battery packs for EVs.

India aims to have EVs account for 30 per cent of car sales by 2030, as it strives to cut its carbon emissions and dependence on crude oil imports.

“It might take a few years to mine the lithium before it reaches the industry for EV battery production,” Mr Sharma says.

He cites hurdles include the millions of litres of water needed to mine the metal, while a large amount of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere in the process.

“The utilisation of the mined lithium to make EV batteries also involves a lot of challenges — converting it to battery-grade lithium and sourcing other EV components and materials, such as cobalt, nickel, required to produce high-quality lithium-ion batteries,” he says.

India has been heavily dependent on imported lithium-ion batteries because of a lack of raw materials to make the cells.

This means it imports about 70 per cent of its battery-cell requirements from China and Hong Kong, according to the consultancy Arthur D Little.

These costs add to India’s trade deficit and to the cost of manufacturing EVs and various products that require lithium-ion batteries.

It is crucial for India to produce cells domestically as demand grows and the country will need to invest more than $10 billion into cell manufacturing by 2030 to meet its needs, the consultancy estimates.

Once the metal is extracted and comes into use, the country may accelerate “production and adoption of clean and green mobility”, given India’s rising demand for lithium and lithium-ion cells and batteries, says Ashutosh Verma, the founder of green energy startup Exalta.

The lithium discovery is also a positive development that can help reduce India’s dependence on imports in tandem with government efforts to grow the country’s manufacturing sector and create jobs.

To encourage battery-cell manufacturing, India’s government has been offering incentives under India’s $2.2 billion advanced chemistry-cell scheme.

“The availability of domestic lithium reserves could lower costs, increase the competence of EVs in the domestic market and support the government’s goal of increasing EV adoption,” says Aditya Vikram, the co-founder of Renon India, a lithium-ion battery storage company based in Gujarat.

But the development and commercialisation of the lithium reserves will require significant investment in mining and processing infrastructure, he says.

Mr Vikram is hopeful that India’s lithium can help his company to manufacture lithium-ion batteries “with enhanced efficiency” and more cost-effectively.

The lithium discovery “could be a game-changer for the electric vehicle industry”, says Manvinder Singh Chugh, the founder and chairman of Aponyx Electric Vehicles.

“The EV industry in India has been held back by a lack of reliable local lithium supply.”

Kalyan C Korimerla, the managing director and co-promoter at Hyderabad-based EV manufacturer Etrio Automobiles, says things are still at an early stage when it comes to lithium production in India, and there is a need “to ascertain the commercial viability … and investments in lithium batteries need to be prioritised” before the industry can benefit from the find.

Experts say it is hard to predict when India’s lithium might be available in the market.

“It’s critical to ensure that lithium mining is done responsibly and sustainably to avoid damaging the environment, particularly soil and water pollution,” says Barnik Maitra, the managing partner at Arthur D Little, India.

Tata Tiago EV, India’s most affordable electric car so far. EPA / DIVYAKANT SOLANKI

He also points out that the population of the local village, numbering in the thousands, would have to be displaced and provided with new homes elsewhere.

Major projects in India are sometimes met with opposition from residents.

The deposits are expected to be auctioned off for private companies to mine.

Mining lithium is a complicated process that requires specialised technology and expertise, which will require India to team up with global companies.

“India will continue to depend on imports for next few years,” says Mr Maitra.

The process “will depend on multiple factors including government approvals, bidding process for mining, interest from industry, technology acquisition, concentration of deposit, geological factors, setting up of refining infrastructure”.

He estimates that the quantity of lithium that India has identified would be plentiful to meet the country’s domestic demand while also exporting the metal.

Refining is the “most critical step and it will need large investment”, Mr Maitra says.

Currently, China is a leader in lithium supplies because it has invested heavily in its refining capabilities and acquisition of mines around the world, as well as having its own lithium reserves.

Bolivia has the world’s largest lithium reserves, with more than 21 million tonnes, but because of a lack of investment in infrastructure, the South American country is not a major producer.

Australia, Chile and China are among the largest producers of lithium. India’s 5.9 million tonnes of reserves places it firmly in the top 10 producers.

But having large reserves does not necessarily mean that all of it will be suitable for use in batteries, experts say.

India will require further studies to reach the final category of ‘mineable reserves’, where the ministry of mines can determine exactly how much tonnage of the metal is available, how much can be extracted and the quality of the mineral, says Anand Kabra, the vice chairman and managing director of Kabra Extrusiontechnik, an Indian manufacturer which recently ventured into making lithium-ion battery packs under its Battrixx division.

“On an optimistic note, it may take at least five to seven years to commercially exploit this metal,” he says.

“The country will slowly become self-reliant if more such deposits are found in future.”

Pravaig, a Bengaluru-based manufacturer of EVs, makes its own batteries.

Its co-founder Ram Divedi says the lengthy process for production of lithium gives India time to step up its cell-manufacturing industry first.

[etrioindia]

IOT-Enabled EVs To Play A Key Role In Agri-Logistics – Etrio

A report by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that nearly 31 per cent of the global human-caused Greenhouse Gas emissions originate from agri-food systems. Of this, more than one-third of these emissions are from supply-chain processes that include transportation, storage and other related activities. In addition, India loses at least 20 per cent of its agricultural produce due to supply chain inefficiencies and relatively poor road and storage infrastructure in rural farm areas. As a result, it is estimated that cost of logistics account for up to one-third and wastage accounts for another one-third of the cost of food items such as vegetables, dairy, meats and other perishable produce. These costs are always passed on to the consumers, thus impacting the food security of the most vulnerable.   Several large businesses and innovative start-ups have been developing technologies to streamline supply chains and logistics operations that have potential to decrease some of these logistics costs. The Indian government has recently announced policies to increase investments in market places, transportation logistics, warehousing and cold storage to reduce wastage.    Electric Vehicles (EVs) have a great role to play in not only reducing the carbon footprint of transportation but also to reduce cost of transportation logistics by up to 70 per cent when compared to IC engine-based vehicles. Furthermore, EVs that are designed with superior on-board technologies can make use of the data gathered by their telematics and IOT devices to integrate seamlessly into the technology platforms that drive supply chain logistics to reduce overall transportation costs by improving efficiencies.    At a time when India is upping the ante for EV adoption and is on the verge of an electric mobility revolution, the penetration of technology-equipped EVs in agri logistics must increase in order to drive down logistics costs as well as to improve supply chain efficiencies. As a matter of fact, the agri and agri-allied industries today present a plethora of novel use-cases of EV usage by benefiting from the on-board IOT enabled technologies. So, let us take a look at these novel opportunities and use-cases for EVs that are arising from the agriculture sector:   EVs in Farm Produce Aggregation: Technology can play a key role in aggregation of produce of small farms by connecting these farmers with produce aggregators. EVs deployed for produce aggregation can provide real-time insights to markets harnessing the data gathered from on-board technologies. Logistics operators and food aggregators can make use of this data to improve supply chain efficiencies, reduce transportation costs and minimise food wastage. 

EVs in Intracity Transportation of Agricultural Products: While EVs can reduce the transportation costs by up to 70 per cent over their IC engine based counterparts, EVs equipped with on-board technologies can play a key role in improving efficiency of transport operations of a logistics service provider. Dynamic route planning, by analysing real-time conditions, can also reduce food wastage by minimising the transit times.

EVs in Indoor Farming: High-yield indoor farming techniques such as hydroponic farming and others can deploy EVs indoors to assist in harvesting so that not only the load carrying capacity and throughput can be improved but the pristine indoor farming environment can be maintained free of harmful emissions from diesel or gasoline fumes. Furthermore, these EVs can also be deployed to transport produce to the markets.    While the EV transition has been progressing at a  faster rate in India’s urban markets, fleet electrification in suburbs, exurbs and rural markets requires a more active push by sound government policies. Investments in roads, charging infrastructure, stable electric grid and driver training can go a long way in minimising the teething issues of deployment of EV fleets in rural markets. Transportation of perishable products requires redundancy in fleet planning and usage of on-board technologies such as dynamic route planning, remote-diagnostics and service in order to protect the value of the products carried.

Today, agri-logistics stakeholders have realised that EVs can not only mitigate pollution and reduce operating costs but also play a key role through their on-board technologies in improving supply chain efficiencies, minimise food wastage and reduce overall cost of agri-logistics. Complemented by friendly government policies, investments in rural infrastructure and incentives for farm stakeholders, increased EV adoption in agri and agri-logistics can become a reality.

[etrioindia]

Agri Logistics - Etrio

Agri-Logistics is a smart logistics social enterprise, providing agricultural value chain integrated courier, transportation and market linkages solutions. Visit https://etrio.in/agri-logistics/

[etrioindia]

IOT-Enabled EVs To Play A Key Role In Agri-Logistics - E-Trio

Several large businesses and innovative start-ups have been developing technologies to streamline supply chains and logistics operations that have potential to decrease some of these logistics costs. The Indian government has recently announced policies to increase investments in market places, transportation logistics, warehousing and cold storage to reduce wastage. For more information, visit https://etrio.in/iot-enabled-evs-to-play-a-key-role-in-agri-logistics/

[etrioindia]

The electrification of commercial vehicle fleets has significantly transformed e-commerce logistics by enabling Economical and efficient operations - Etrio

The e-commerce industry is integral to India’s digital transformation, and the Digital India program launched by the government has facilitated this transformation. Today, the digitally connected world has changed buying habits and the Pandemic only accelerated this transformation. The Indian consumer can obtain a wide range of products and services at their doorstep by leveraging the advantage of e-commerce platforms.

With the growth of e-commerce, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have expanded their businesses by leveraging digital platforms to reach new customers.

With the growth of e-commerce, there has been a significant increase in the demand for logistics services, particularly last-mile delivery. The electrification of e-commerce logistics has helped the industry by reducing delivery costs, improving efficiency, and lowering carbon emissions.

The Indian government has set of goal of 100% new EV sales in last mile segment by 2030 and is actively encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in e-commerce logistics by rolling out several tax incentives and subsidies for EV manufacturers and buyers.

In addition to the cost and efficiency benefits, the electrification of e-commerce logistics can also help to reduce air pollution and improve the health of communities.

Overall, as the digital economy continues to expand, e-commerce is expected to play an even more significant role in shaping the future of India’s economy.

The widespread adoption of electric three-wheelers and electric trucks for inter-city and intra-city cargo transportation and the transition to electric vehicles for commercial purposes and e-commerce logistics will have far-reaching benefits for India’s economy and society.

[etrioindia]

Etrio and Kosher Climate join to create carbon credit framework for E3W CVs - Etrio

Manufacturer etrio has partnered with the Bengaluru-based renewable energy consultants and developers of environmental commodities, Kosher Climate, to create a carbon credit framework for commercial EVs. This collaboration will help companies reduce Greenhouse emissions and use tradable carbon credits to achieve the net zero goal.

This framework follows the Verified Carbon Standard Methodology and will help companies gain economic and environmental benefits from fully electric and hybrid commercial fleet deployments, making them truly sustainable businesses.

“Etrio is one of the first EV manufacturers in India to create a carbon credit framework specifically for the 3-wheeler commercial EV segment,’ Managing Director & Co-promoter, Etrio, Kalyan C Korimerla, said.

“Tradable carbon credits will help our customers meet their sustainability goals and achieve substantial savings. At the same time, the monetization of carbon credits creates an additional revenue inflow into the EV Industry. We chose Kosher Climate as our partner in this endeavour based on their global experience in offering end-to-end carbon credit solutions to 100+ customers across nine counties. We believe a framework for tradable carbon credits is a sustainable growth model which augurs well economically and environmentally,” he added.

Etrio’s commercial electric vehicles are deployed widely across various commercial use cases – agri logistics, waste management, e-commerce, cold chain logistics, gas delivery, and for other last-mile logistics requirements. Its product portfolio has a wide range of electric vehicles with payloads ranging from 350 kg to 700 kg across three and four-wheeler segments.

[etrioindia]

E-Commerce Logistics - Etrio

The e-commerce industry is integral to India’s digital transformation, and the Digital India program launched by the government has facilitated this transformation. Today, the digitally connected world has changed buying habits and the Pandemic only accelerated this transformation. The Indian consumer can obtain a wide range of products and services at their doorstep by leveraging the advantage of e-commerce platforms. Read more https://etrio.in/the-electrification-of-commercial-vehicle-fleets-has-significantly-transformede-commerce-logistics-by-enabling-economical-and-efficient-operations/

[etrioindia]

E-Commerce Logistics - Etrio

The e-commerce industry is integral to India’s digital transformation, and the Digital India program launched by the government has facilitated this transformation. Today, the digitally connected world has changed buying habits and the Pandemic only accelerated this transformation. The Indian consumer can obtain a wide range of products and services at their doorstep by leveraging the advantage of e-commerce platforms. Read more https://etrio.in/the-electrification-of-commercial-vehicle-fleets-has-significantly-transformede-commerce-logistics-by-enabling-economical-and-efficient-operations/

[etrioindia]

Commercial Electric Vehicle - Etrio

We introduced India’s first certified electric light commercial vehicle and Country’s first FAME certified 3-wheeler in L5 category. We use advanced data analytics and practical insights gained from millions of kilometers of in-service experience of deploying EVs across India. For more information, visit https://etrio.in/etrio-elcv/

[etrioindia]

Commercial Electric Vehicle - Etrio

We introduced India’s first certified electric light commercial vehicle and Country’s first FAME certified 3-wheeler in L5 category. We use advanced data analytics and practical insights gained from millions of kilometers of in-service experience of deploying EVs across India. For more information, visit https://etrio.in/etrio-elcv/

[etrioindia]

IOT-Enabled EVs To Play A Key Role In Agri-Logistics - Etrio

Several large businesses and innovative start-ups have been developing technologies to streamline supply chains and logistics operations that have potential to decrease some of these logistics costs

A report by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that nearly 31 per cent of the global human-caused Greenhouse Gas emissions originate from agri-food systems. Of this, more than one-third of these emissions are from supply-chain processes that include transportation, storage and other related activities. In addition, India loses at least 20 per cent of its agricultural produce due to supply chain inefficiencies and relatively poor road and storage infrastructure in rural farm areas. As a result, it is estimated that cost of logistics account for up to one-third and wastage accounts for another one-third of the cost of food items such as vegetables, dairy, meats and other perishable produce. These costs are always passed on to the consumers, thus impacting the food security of the most vulnerable.   Several large businesses and innovative start-ups have been developing technologies to streamline supply chains and logistics operations that have potential to decrease some of these logistics costs. The Indian government has recently announced policies to increase investments in market places, transportation logistics, warehousing and cold storage to reduce wastage.    Electric Vehicles (EVs) have a great role to play in not only reducing the carbon footprint of transportation but also to reduce cost of transportation logistics by up to 70 per cent when compared to IC engine-based vehicles. Furthermore, EVs that are designed with superior on-board technologies can make use of the data gathered by their telematics and IOT devices to integrate seamlessly into the technology platforms that drive supply chain logistics to reduce overall transportation costs by improving efficiencies.    At a time when India is upping the ante for EV adoption and is on the verge of an electric mobility revolution, the penetration of technology-equipped EVs in agri logistics must increase in order to drive down logistics costs as well as to improve supply chain efficiencies. As a matter of fact, the agri and agri-allied industries today present a plethora of novel use-cases of EV usage by benefiting from the on-board IOT enabled technologies. So, let us take a look at these novel opportunities and use-cases for EVs that are arising from the agriculture sector:   EVs in Farm Produce Aggregation: Technology can play a key role in aggregation of produce of small farms by connecting these farmers with produce aggregators. EVs deployed for produce aggregation can provide real-time insights to markets harnessing the data gathered from on-board technologies. Logistics operators and food aggregators can make use of this data to improve supply chain efficiencies, reduce transportation costs and minimise food wastage. 

EVs in Intracity Transportation of Agricultural Products: While EVs can reduce the transportation costs by up to 70 per cent over their IC engine based counterparts, EVs equipped with on-board technologies can play a key role in improving efficiency of transport operations of a logistics service provider. Dynamic route planning, by analysing real-time conditions, can also reduce food wastage by minimising the transit times.

EVs in Indoor Farming: High-yield indoor farming techniques such as hydroponic farming and others can deploy EVs indoors to assist in harvesting so that not only the load carrying capacity and throughput can be improved but the pristine indoor farming environment can be maintained free of harmful emissions from diesel or gasoline fumes. Furthermore, these EVs can also be deployed to transport produce to the markets.    While the EV transition has been progressing at a  faster rate in India’s urban markets, fleet electrification in suburbs, exurbs and rural markets requires a more active push by sound government policies. Investments in roads, charging infrastructure, stable electric grid and driver training can go a long way in minimising the teething issues of deployment of EV fleets in rural markets. Transportation of perishable products requires redundancy in fleet planning and usage of on-board technologies such as dynamic route planning, remote-diagnostics and service in order to protect the value of the products carried.

Today, agri-logistics stakeholders have realised that EVs can not only mitigate pollution and reduce operating costs but also play a key role through their on-board technologies in improving supply chain efficiencies, minimise food wastage and reduce overall cost of agri-logistics. Complemented by friendly government policies, investments in rural infrastructure and incentives for farm stakeholders, increased EV adoption in agri and agri-logistics can become a reality.

[etrioindia]

How EV Startups Can Electrify Last-Mile Ecommerce Deliveries - Etrio

Ecommerce or quick commerce is one of the early adopters of electric vehicles

According to industry reports, 15-20% of last-mile ecommerce cargo fleets have been electrified globally

Let’s look at a few key considerations that must be made when determining whether the switch to EVs is feasible

Businesses with an average daily vehicle utilisation of 100 km per day have begun to turn to green logistics solutions for long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

Ecommerce or quick commerce is one of the early adopters of electric vehicles. According to industry reports, 15-20% of last-mile ecommerce cargo fleets have been electrified globally, either through retrofitted solutions, the replacement of ICE vehicles with EVs, or the introduction of EVs. With proactive government policies, India is rapidly progressing toward commercial EV usage. 

However, transitioning to EVs requires considerable thought and planning. We learned early on as an early entrant into the EV market as an OEM that the entire EV ecosystem is still learning how to deploy, operate, and service EVs. The following crucial factors must be taken into account in a decision-support framework for EV viability:

Distribution Demand Forecasting & Route Planning

It’s a common myth that logistics operators need to build routes around the availability of charging stations. On the other hand, EVs can be deployed on several routes that do not depend on public charging infrastructure. It is necessary to have a clear and thorough understanding of the route profiles by carefully analysing the capabilities of EVs. 

For instance, we discovered that EVs can efficiently run up to 50% of most customers’ routes without requiring mid-route charging for ecommerce furniture deliveries in urban areas. With increased ecommerce usage, most logistics players’ delivery routes are becoming shorter.

Efficiency Comparison Across Various Usage Scenarios

Vehicle needs of typical logistics operators consist of first-mile, mid-mile, and last-mile vehicles. EVs can currently be deployed efficiently for relatively low payload first- and last-mile applications. However, as the technology matures, EVs will make inroads into mid-mile and inter-city logistics.

[etrioindia]

Can India Become the Next Electric Mobility Superpower? - Etrio

India’s EV story is being led by commercial EVs, especially in the last mile in the commercial cargo logistics space. By Kalyan C Korimerla, MD and Co-Promoter, Etrio

There is little doubt today that electric vehicles are the next big frontier of transport and mobility worldwide. In the backdrop of an increased focus on environmental and pollution concerns as well as superior operating economics especially in commercial applications, EVs have truly emerged as the most sustainable path towards decarbonizing transport and mobility globally, with users, communities, policymakers and companies backing the increased adoption of zero-emission EVs across numerous sectors and use-cases.  

Today, almost all the countries that have the highest levels of penetration of electric mobility (such as Norway, China, France, Netherlands and others) have been able to achieve this based on major contributions from native policies, innovative EV applications, as well as creating a robust ecosystem around EV applications. India, with one of the world’s largest automotive markets, has a great opportunity to be among the leaders not only in driving adoption but also in creating a world-class manufacturing ecosystem backed by sound long-term policies.

India’s EV story is being led by commercial EVs, especially in the last mile in the commercial cargo logistics space. Besides the well-documented benefits of electrification for cleaner air and for improving the environment at large, EVs are now able to offer not only superior operating economics than IC Engine based vehicles but also deliver lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). EV transition at scale in India is bound to give a major boost to our domestic economy and manufacturing ecosystem in the years to come and has the potential to generate huge employment. Furthermore, superior operating economics of commercial EVs will reduce the cost of logistics in India, which will increase the competitiveness of India in the global manufacturing context.

The nation’s apex policymaking body, Niti Aayog, has already set an ambitious vision of EV penetration of at least 30% in the passenger car segment, 70% in commercial vehicles, 40% in buses and 80% for two and three-wheelers by 2030. Furthermore, India’s Road Transport Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari has vowed to soon bring down the cost of the acquisition of EVs in India at par with petrol and diesel-based counterparts. Then to add to that, there are supportive Central Policies like FAME (Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in India) and various state-specific policies – all working in tandem to help EVs in India to sustain, thrive and increase in terms of popularity and adoption. 

Etrio believes that for India to truly make a mark in the global e-mobility market as an “e-mobility superpower”, it is not enough that India captures a key share of global EV manufacturing but India should also invest in creating a robust and thriving domestic e-mobility market. In addition to the policy push, investments in EV infrastructure, development of diverse use cases for EV deployment and creation of a viable ecosystem. To realize the fullest potential of EVs in the country’s commercial segment, innovative EV OEMs such as Etrio are playing a pivotal role by taking a data-driven approach towards designing ground-up vehicles and enabling more use cases for EV deployment.

Etrio’s e-3W and e-4W products are specifically designed and optimized to address the last-mile use cases of its customers in e-commerce (last-mile delivery) delivery, intra-city logistics, agri-logistics, waste collection, pharma cold chain logistics, gas cylinder delivery and other emerging application areas. Notably, Etrio is India’s first EV Company to retrofit commercial vehicles (LCVs) for intra-city logistics, as well as the first in India to launch FAME-certified ground-up L5 e-3Ws.

Etrio believes in utilizing technology to the fullest to deliver customer experience not only in helping a traditional ICE vehicle driver to transition to EV but also in ensuring that today’s fleet managers can replace ICE vehicles with EVs with limited disruption and improved safety. Going forward, they will continue to understand the customers’ needs deeply and will deploy the latest EV technologies through its upcoming and existing range of vehicles in order to help our customers both, in using EVs in more and more routes, as well as in seamless transition from ICE vehicles to EVs. 

With a comprehensive approach from building reliable and intelligent products and reducing the total cost of ownership to ensuring a delightful customer experience, Etrio has already established a strong portfolio of customers and clients countrywide, while also working along with 30+ global companies. They are now in the process of acquiring new customers and are projecting 10 x growths in the next few fiscal years. From continuously experimenting with new use cases across several domains/sectors for its EV-fleets to serving the transport and logistics requirements for both intercity and intracity mobility, Etrio is working and innovating across both ends of the spectrum, i.e. creating a viable ecosystem and diverse use cases for EV usage, and thereby delivering on each and every front when it comes to enabling India’s EV-led transformation story.