Amazon India rival Flipkart deploys 10,000 electric vehicles in its delivery fleet

Flipkart, one of India’s largest e-commerce companies, has integrated over 10,000 electric vehicles (EVs) into its delivery fleet, advancing its goal to fully transition to an electric last-mile logistics fleet by 2030.

The milestone, achieved over several years of phased EV integration, aligns with Flipkart’s pledge to the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative, which supports global corporate adoption of electric transport.

The development comes just before Flipkart’s Sustainability Action Summit 2024, set to take place on Nov. 13 in New Delhi at the India Habitat Centre.

The event is expected to draw attention to Flipkart’s broader environmental initiatives.

Focus on tier-I and tier-II cities

Currently, about 75% of Flipkart’s electric delivery fleet operates in Tier-I cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, bolstering sustainable last-mile delivery solutions in high-density areas.

In August, The Walmart-owned company said that EVs were responsible for fulfilling over 55% of its grocery orders, further underscoring its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. 

During the 2024 festive season, EVs helped Flipkart handle over 16% of grocery deliveries in Tier-II and beyond, including cities like Lucknow, Sonipat, Ludhiana, Bhubaneswar, Malda, Hubli, and Vizag. 

Efficiency and infrastructure development

The shift to EVs has led to significant efficiency improvements for Flipkart. According to the company, the cost per order at the hub level has decreased, and last-mile delivery speeds have increased by 20% compared to traditional vehicles.

The progress is supported by extensive infrastructure development, including a partnership with Adani Group to establish 38 EV charging stations across key Tier-II cities. These sites are equipped with 190 chargers, with plans to expand the network to foster public EV usage as well.

To further scale its EV integration, Flipkart introduced a Last-Mile Aggregator model in Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, collaborating with fleet operators focused on EV adoption.

Leadership comments

Hemant Badri, Flipkart’s Senior Vice President and Group Head of Supply Chain, Customer Experience, and Re-commerce Business, underscored the company’s dual objectives of environmental impact and operational efficiency.

“With the deployment of over 10,000 EVs, what we have achieved is more than a logistical shift,” Badri said.“It is a testament to our dedication to creating a lasting positive impact on the environment while enhancing service efficiency for our customers.”

Nishant Gupta, Flipkart’s Head of Sustainability, echoed these sentiments, pointing to Flipkart’s partnerships and collaborations as critical to its vision. 

“Since the beginning of our journey towards electrifying our fleet, we have worked tirelessly to transform our delivery network to build a greener future,” Gupta said, adding that the company’s work with OEMs, EV service providers, and financing bodies are helping accelerate EV adoption in the Indian market.