Less than a year after the initial deployment of its inaugural electric vehicle (EV) fleet in India, Maersk is gearing up to bolster its EV contingent to over 500 vehicles spread across 26 cities, encompassing first-mile, middle-mile, and last-mile distribution networks throughout the country.
Maersk, a prominent player in the logistics sector, has set its sights on achieving Net Zero status for its operations and delivering entirely green solutions to customers by 2040. In order to accomplish this ambitious objective, a crucial step involves the decarbonization of logistics across all phases. The significance of this endeavour is not solely confined to Maersk’s sustainability aspirations but also resonates with its clients who are actively seeking green alternatives to lower their supply chain emissions.
In September 2022, Maersk introduced its fleet of three-wheeler and four-wheeler EVs in Mumbai, India, and expedited their deployment for the initial customer in the National Capital Region (NCR). Subsequent to this launch, the awareness surrounding EVs capable of supporting distribution logistics in India has surged, resulting in an unprecedented demand from numerous clients.
Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director of Maersk South Asia, emphasized the evolving landscape, stating,
“India is a large market with a constantly growing demand for distribution logistics. E-Commerce has particularly seen unprecedented growth in India over the last few years and has tremendous potential to keep growing in the coming years. With growing e-Commerce came the growing demand, especially for middle- and last-mile distribution. But it is not limited to just any distribution means – our customers are keen on decarbonising supply chains rapidly, and we are stepping in to support them with our fleet of EVs in India.”
Maersk has recently partnered with a prominent e-commerce platform in India to cater to its distribution requirements through a dedicated fleet of electric vehicles (EVs). This assortment encompasses vehicles with cargo capacities ranging from 550 to 700 kilograms and an impressive driving range exceeding 120 kilometres. The deployment of these vehicles spans more than 15 cities, with over 200 already in operation and plans for an additional 300 EVs.
Jitendra Kapoor, Head of Middle Mile & Last Mile Distribution at Maersk South Asia, highlighted the versatility of their EV fleet, stating,
“With a range of EVs available in our fleet, we are able to provide our customers the option to choose depending on the commodities they want to move and in the radius that they want to operate in. We have as small as two-wheelers that are delivering fresh ready-to-eat salads in the NCR region for a customer, to groceries and lifestyle items for another customer across the country.”
The cumulative distance covered by Maersk’s EV fleet has already exceeded 135,000 kilometres. In addition to the EV expansion, Maersk is also investing in the development of a comprehensive charging network for its EVs. This initiative includes exploring the integration of solar energy to power its warehouses nationwide, further bolstering its commitment to sustainable logistics solutions.