Mission Electric: Ola Will Add 10,000 New Electric Vehicles To Their Fleet!
In its latest Mission Electric, the company is planning to work with drivers and collaborate with city administrations.
Homegrown cab aggregator OLA has been repeatedly trying to make its mark in the Indian EV sector. After a failure with electric taxis in Nagpur, the company is now ready with second plan route, called Mission Electric. The Bangalore-based company is aiming to add around 1 million electric vehicles to its platform by 2021.
As a part of the second plan, the ride-hailing company is planning to add a fleet of electric three-wheelers to its platform. The company will add 10,000 e-rickshaws and electric auto-rickshaws in the next one year in a bid to give its EV plans in India a push.
The Big Nagpur Failure
Earlier, the company had launched a fleet of electric cabs, electric auto rickshaws and electric buses in Nagpur. OLA installed rooftop solar panels, electric charging stations were set up and battery swapping experiments were done in the city.
OLA was the first company in India to do so. The company also partnered with Mahindra for an exclusive EV mass-transit ecosystem in Nagpur.
But the multi-modal electric pilot in Nagpur failed, and the company faced a major setback in its first trial with EVs. Several drivers opted out due to unavailability of proper charging stations, long waits for charging and high operating charges.
OLA’s Electric Vehicles: Mission 2.0
In its latest Mission Electric, the company is planning to work with drivers and collaborate with city administrations. The company will partner with vehicle manufacturers, and battery companies to make sustainable electric vehicles and other related products.
OLA will help to build a cost-effective EV ecosystem, which will be viable in daily EV mobility. The company is also in talks with multiple OEM partners and EV innovators from around the world to bring electric vehicles in a more planned and phased manner.
The next phase of OLA’s EV mission will primarily focus on effectively managing the fleet of vehicles, batteries, charging and operations. OLA will partner with multiple state governments across the country for an appropriate environmental policy to deploy its electric vehicles.
The company is planning to develop a stronger business model with Mission Electric for the deployment of EVs in the country.
No License Needed For Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
With a mission for almost 100 percent electric mobility by 2030, the government is trying out different models to give EV a push in the country. The latest is ‘no license’ to set up a charging station for electric vehicles.
With the latest amendment in Electricity Act of 2003, there is no need for a license to set up an electric charging station anymore.
The latest move will now help government, private operators and OEMs to join hands in developing a robust model for wider adoption of EVs in the country. As per the new law, it does not in any way include the sale of electricity to any person and vehicles have to be charged within premises.
One of the major setbacks for an EV mobility ecosystem is the unavailability of enough charging stations, and the new law will help to build a wider charging infrastructure, which will indirectly encourage the adoption of EVs in India.
The new move will help companies to come together for a complete EV ecosystem with the proper supply, sustainable infrastructure and timely services.
