As electric vehicle (EV) adoption gains traction in India’s last-mile delivery sector, Swiggy is expanding access to electric two-wheelers for gig workers through battery-swapping infrastructure and rental services at its Instamart pods.
The company has introduced battery-swapping stations across 25 locations in partnership with ecosystem players and is introducing EV rentals at the same facilities, allowing delivery partners to access vehicles and swap batteries at their order collection points.
Swiggy’s approach places EV access within the existing delivery network rather than requiring delivery partners to travel separately to vehicle rental or battery-swapping facilities. According to the company, a delivery partner visits an Instamart pod approximately 20 times on a busy day, making these locations potential access points for EV rentals and battery exchanges.
EV Access For Gig Workers
The initiative addresses some of the practical constraints affecting EV adoption among gig workers, particularly the upfront cost of vehicle ownership, access to financing and charging infrastructure, and the time required to recharge vehicles. By introducing rentals and battery swapping at Instamart pods, Swiggy is attempting to integrate EV usage into delivery partners’ existing work routines.
The company said the battery-swapping stations have been developed with ecosystem partners. Its EV rental offering will also allow delivery partners to collect vehicles from Instamart pods where they pick up orders.
Sriharsha Majety, Co-founder and Group CEO of Swiggy, said, “Every order has a person behind it, and the last mile is that person. Our delivery partners are at the heart of everything we do, and our vision is to make their work easier and more rewarding. For those who choose electric, that means taking away the everyday hurdles, so that the transition fits naturally into the way they already work. When a solution is built around the partner’s day rather than around the technology, adoption becomes a natural choice.”
Policy And Industry Push
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari highlighted the role of electric mobility in India’s transport transition and the need for collaboration between government and industry.
“India’s growth depends on clean, efficient and affordable transport. Delivery partners are the backbone of the new economy, and when they choose electric vehicles, it benefits their incomes, our cities and our environment. I appreciate Swiggy and its partners for working together to bring practical solutions closer to those who need them. Government and industry must continue to collaborate so that every delivery partner who wants to choose an EV finds it easy to do so,” Gadkari said.
The conclave also recognised delivery partners who have adopted EVs and companies contributing to the supporting ecosystem. These included Indofast Energy, Yulu, Bounce Daily, RIDEV, Baaz Bikes, Motovolt, Shadowfax, BGauss Auto, Veelo Mobility, Hala Mobility and Yuma Energy.
For last-mile delivery platforms, expanding EV adoption will depend not only on vehicle availability but also on making rentals, battery access and financing viable for workers who rely on daily delivery earnings. Swiggy’s latest initiative seeks to address the infrastructure and accessibility components of this transition by bringing EV services closer to its delivery network.
