How is BigBasket Electrifying Its Quick Commerce Fleet with Kazam?

BigBasket, India’s largest online grocery platform, is leading the way in sustainable mobility with a vision of transitioning 100% of their fleet vehicles to EVs by the year of 2030. To achieve this, BigBasket is collaborating with multiple EV ecosystem players, including charging infrastructure providers like Kazam, fleet service providers like Zypp Electric, and vehicle manufacturers such as Ampere Vehicles and Euler Motors. Zypp Electric has also set up over 50 battery-swapping stations to support efficient last-mile deliveries.

By integrating Kazam’s smart hardware and software, BigBasket is ensuring a seamless shift from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to EVs, aligning with its long-term environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

What Challenges Did BigBasket Face in the EV Transition?

Despite the sustainability benefits, transitioning to EVs posed multiple challenges for BigBasket:

• BigBasket doesn’t own any vehicles itself, making adoption dependent on courier partners.
• Adoption was contingent on EV fueling infrastructure.
• Delivery drivers didn’t have the space to charge vehicles in their own homes.
• Ensuring driver safety during the charging process was important
• Monitoring energy consumption across fleets was needed to ensure DISCOM compliance
• Establishing a stable and scalable charging infrastructure was required to scale their operations
  

With Kazam’s Charging Management System (CMS), these challenges were efficiently tackled, ensuring operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Why Did BigBasket Choose Kazam Over Traditional Charging Methods?

Many EV drivers in India rely on home sockets for charging. However, this method is:

• Unsafe – Can lead to electrical hazards and fires
• Slow – Not optimized for quick charging
• Inefficient – Leads to unpredictable energy consumption
  

Additionally, home charging is time-consuming and inefficient for fleet drivers. If a driver completes 40 orders per day, with an average one-way distance of 2–3 km per order, and their EV has a range of ~90 km, they will need to recharge during the day. Without accessible charging infrastructure, drivers may return home to charge, cutting into their delivery time and reducing revenue for both BigBasket and the drivers.

To solve this issue and maximize fleet efficiency, BigBasket adopted Kazam’s smart charging hubs, providing:

• Controlled and reliable overnight charging, ensuring EVs are always ready.
• In-house charging infrastructure, reducing downtime and improving operational efficiency.
• Optimized charging management, saving both time and money for BigBasket and its delivery partners.

By integrating dedicated charging solutions, BigBasket ensures a seamless EV transition, enhancing sustainability while maintaining delivery efficiency.

What Are BigBasket’s Key Achievements with Kazam?

BigBasket has made significant strides in its EV adoption:

• 26% reduction in internal combustion engine (ICE) delivery vehicles
• 4x increase in EV adoption across its fleet
• Expansion of smart hubs in 32 cities

• Implementation of LEVAC safety technology for secure charging
• Kazam deployed charge points within Big Basket’s fulfillment hubs
• Connected CMS ensured no charger downtime & high vehicle runtime
• 50 Million Green Kilometers & 24 GigaWatt hours of energy managed
  

BigBasket aims for 100% EV adoption by 2030, making it a trailblazer in sustainable last-mile delivery.

How Are Kazam’s Smart Hubs Transforming EV Charging for BigBasket?

BigBasket’s collaboration with Kazam has led to the implementation of Smart Hubs that provide:

1. Charging Points– Over 700 charging points will be established nationwide.
2. Industry-Standard Smart Hubs – Featuring LEVAC technology for enhanced safety and compliance.
3. 24x7 CCTV Surveillance – Ensuring secure charging environments for drivers.
4. End-to-End Tariff Management – Enabling cost-effective energy utilization.
5. Fleet Vehicle Charging Optimization – Minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency.
   

By integrating CEID technology, BigBasket now has better control over who can access its charging points, ensuring only authorized users can charge vehicles.

How Is BigBasket’s EV Initiative Benefiting Drivers and the Environment?

BigBasket’s shift to EVs offers multiple benefits:

• Improved Driver Lifestyle – Hassle-free, overnight charging reduces stress and ensures vehicle availability.
• Lower Operational Costs – EVs significantly cut fuel expenses.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint – The transition contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions and a cleaner environment.
  

With every kilometer driven, BigBasket is scaling sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.

What Does the Data Show?

EV Utilization Growth (Jan 2023 – June 2023)

BigBasket’s data highlights a steady rise in the use of 2W and 3W EVs, proving the feasibility of large-scale EV adoption. As fleet electrification increases, vehicles are averaging 100 km per day per charge, making deliveries more efficient and cost-effective.

Carbon Savings and Energy Consumption Trends

• Increase in KWh usage is directly linked to reduced carbon emissions.
• Projected 50% reduction in greenhouse gases as EV adoption scales.
• Boost in non-fossil fuel energy share, supporting India’s 2030 climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

Insights from BigBasket’s IT & Innovations Head

Garapathy Subramaniam, Head of IT and Innovations at BigBasket, shares key insights from BigBasket’s EV journey:

• The biggest challenge in EV adoption was ensuring vehicles didn’t run out of charge and were always available.
• Kazam’s unified technology helped integrate vehicles, charging stations, and the utility grid into a single platform.
• Tracking energy consumption allowed BigBasket to provide full transparency to driver partners.
• Safety remains a top priority, and Kazam’s solutions provide enhanced load balancing, alert management, and remote monitoring.
  

“Kazam’s enthusiasm and ability to deliver tailored solutions have been instrumental in BigBasket’s EV transformation.”

What’s Next for BigBasket’s EV Expansion?

BigBasket is not stopping here. The company is actively working on:

• Expanding smart charging hubs to more cities
• Enhancing its EV fleet management capabilities
• Further optimizing delivery routes with AI-driven analytics
  

By 2030, BigBasket aims to be 100% EV-powered, leading the e-commerce industry toward a greener future.

Conclusion: BigBasket’s EV Transformation Sets a New Industry Benchmark

BigBasket’s transition to electric mobility is not just a sustainability initiative—it’s a highly ROI-driven decision that optimizes costs, efficiency, and operations. By shifting to EVs, BigBasket is:

• Cutting operational costs by reducing fuel expenses and maintenance overhead.
• Revolutionizing last-mile delivery with safe and efficient EV charging infrastructure.
• Enhancing sustainability efforts by lowering carbon emissions and fuel dependence.
• Streamlining fleet management, ensuring seamless, predictable, and cost-effective logistics.

With its ESG-focused approach, BigBasket is setting a new industry standard for profitable and sustainable e-commerce logistics in India. By making EV adoption a strategic and financially viable move, it demonstrates how businesses can align environmental goals with operational success.