Short : Rapido plans to deploy 10,000 electric auto-rickshaws with 2-minute battery swap technology, promoting faster turnaround times and eco-friendly transport in cities. This initiative aims to reduce emissions, enhance driver efficiency, and support greener urban mobility, offering a more sustainable commuting solution.
Detail : Rapido has joined hands with IndoFast Energy to launch 10,000 Piaggio electric autos equipped with swappable battery technology across India, boosting sustainable mobility and cutting downtime for EVs.
Homegrown ride-hailing platform Rapido, on Wednesday, teamed up with IndoFast Energy, a joint venture between IndianOil and SUN Mobility, to roll out 10,000 Piaggio swappable electric autos (E-City Max) across the country over the next two years.
Pavan Guntupalli, Co-founder of Rapido, in a company statement, said, ”Our partnership with IndoFast Energy significantly enhances our electric vehicle offerings, helping us deliver on our commitment to eco-friendly mobility.” Rapido, by integrating these electric vehicles, aims to have around 20% of its daily rides powered by swappable electric autos.
According to Rapido, this collaboration aims to promote sustainable mobility by incorporating swappable electric autos into its fleet. The initial deployment will focus on Hyderabad, Bangalore, and other key cities in southern India, with over 1,000 electric vehicles expected to be introduced by the end of December 2024.
The move builds on a successful pilot project conducted in 2023 across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, which integrated IndoFast Energy’s swappable battery technology with Rapido’s platform. As per the company statement, this system allows drivers, known as “captains,” to quickly swap out depleted batteries, eliminating downtime and providing seamless operation.
IndoFast Energy’s swappable battery solution, which uses Piaggio’s E-City Max autos, are equipped with SUN Mobility’s technology, allowing batteries to be exchanged at designated stations in under two minutes. Currently, IndoFast Energy has set up over 100 swap stations in Hyderabad and 200 in Bangalore, with plans for further expansion.
IndoFast Energy plans to scale up its infrastructure and aims to establish 10,000 battery-swapping stations across 40 cities in India over the next three years. This pay-per-use model allows drivers to pay only for the energy consumed during each swap.
In addition to its current plans, Rapido and IndoFast Energy are exploring the possibility of introducing high-speed electric two-wheelers and retrofitted three-wheelers to diversify the range of eco-friendly transportation options on Rapido’s platform.
