A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) is set to strengthen its electric vehicle (EV) fleet to over 500 vehicles in 26 cities covering first-, middle- and last-mile distribution across India.
Maersk revealed its three-wheeler and four-wheeler EVs in Mumbai, India, in September 2022, and quickly rolled them out to its first client in the NCR region.
Since then, the awareness around EVs that can support distribution logistics in India has risen, and with that has come an unprecedented demand from several customers, according to the Danish giant.
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Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia, stated: “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 significant e-Commerce platform in India to serve its distribution needs with a specialised fleet of EVs weighing 550 to 700 kilogrammes and with a driving range of more than 120 kilometres.
More than 200 cars, including more than 300 EVs, have already been deployed throughout 15 locations.
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Jitendra Kapoor, Head of Middle Mile & Last Mile Distribution, Maersk South Asia, said: “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.”
Maersk’s EV fleet has travelled more than 135,000 kilometres thus far.
Maersk is also investing in the development of a charging network for its EV fleet, as well as the prospect of harnessing solar energy at its own facilities for warehouses around the nation.
In June 2023, Maersk purchased 25 new Volvo FH electric trucks for hinterland container transports in Germany.
