Electric fleet companies help make business of small EVs viable

Firms like SmartE or Bengaluru-based Lithium Urban Technologies, giants like Ola that helps e-commerce companies deliver products, are playing a key role in kicking up sales of electric vehicles

Gurugram-based electric mobility service company SmartE is planning a massive expansion of its fleet of lithium-ion-powered three-wheelers. The company offers first- and last-mile connectivity to over 100,000 riders every day on a shared basis (four riders) to and from various metro stations in the National Capital Region (NCR), mostly on a fixed route and for just Rs 10 per passenger.

“In the next 18 months, we plan a 10-fold increase in our fleet to 10,000 and to serve riders in more than 100 metro stations, mostly in Delhi, from the current 14, of which seven are in Delhi. The market