Instamart expands battery-swap network for delivery EVs

Quick commerce platform Instamart announced plans on Wednesday to expand its network of battery-swapping stations for electric delivery vehicles. The initiative, developed with partners Yulu and Yuma Energy, aims to tackle barriers to electric vehicle adoption in last-mile logistics.

Instamart is providing space at its micro-fulfilment centers, known as PODs or dark stores, for Yuma Energy to install its battery-swapping infrastructure. The goal is to place this infrastructure closer to where delivery partners operate. The first such station opened this month at an Instamart dark store in Bengaluru.

Solving practical delivery challenges

Company vice president Anant Choudhary stated the effort targets the practical realities of delivery work. "The next phase of EV adoption is about making electric mobility work in the day-to-day reality of last-mile delivery," Choudhary said. He explained the partnerships focus on making vehicles accessible, keeping costs low, and reducing charging downtime.

For delivery riders, who can cover over 90 kilometers daily, a single battery charge is often insufficient. The company estimates locating swap stations near PODs could save each partner up to 60 minutes of travel and waiting time per day. Yuma Energy's network, which includes over 2,000 swapping units, allows for a battery exchange in under two minutes.

Incentives and expanding access

A separate program with Yulu offers rental cashback incentives to delivery partners who use Yulu's electric two-wheelers on the Instamart platform. Instamart claims this program, launched in May, has already incentivized thousands of partners. It reportedly reduces rental expenses by up to 30 percent for participants, shielding them from petrol price fluctuations.

Instamart and its parent company, Swiggy, already work with more than 50 electric vehicle partners across India. The new collaborations with Yulu and Yuma Energy are intended to strengthen this existing ecosystem. They combine vehicle access, affordability, and convenient energy infrastructure to support wider EV use in the delivery fleet.

The company's announcement frames the expansion as a logical step in optimizing its logistics network. By integrating energy access into its fulfillment footprint, Instamart aims to make electric vehicles a more viable and efficient tool for its delivery partners.