Gig delivery workers drive EV revolution in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Gig delivery workers appear to be driving the electric vehicle (EV) revolution in the city. For the past two years, a significant number of workers in Bengaluru have switched to EVs, thanks to app based e-mobility rental firms.
For instance, Yulu Miracle electric scooters which were used largely by working professionals and college students are now widely being used by gig economy workers.Industrial sources said the demand for electric mopeds has also increased.
E-mobility rental firms such as Yulu, Bounce, Fae Bikes, eBikeGo and Zypp Electric are also witnessing a spike in demand, especially from the delivery segment (food, groceries, medicines, etc).
“During the Covid-19 lockdown, many people who lost their jobs became delivery workers and they were in need of two-wheelers. At the same time, e-mobility rental firms which lost a significant number of users tied up with food delivery aggregators and introduced special packages for workers,” said an industry source.
So, why are delivery workers increasingly opting for rental e-scooters? Experts say there are multiple reasons — the cost of BS VI two-wheelers has increased; the maximum speed of e-scooters like Yulu is 25kmph and they, therefore, do not require a driving licence; if there is no need for a DL, the user could evade harassment by traffic police/hefty fines; soaring fuel prices; and availability of battery-swapping stations/charging units.
Vinay Sarathy, president of the United Food Delivery Partners Union, said: “Many shifted to e-scooters, especially after the fuel price hike. For Yulu Miracle, the weekly rent is Rs 1,400 but it is still cheaper than petrol scooters. ” he said.
Sea change with onset of pandemic
Amit Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Yulu, said: “Prior to Covid-19, a majority of our users were office-goers. But the trend has changed now. We have around 7,500 Yulu scooters in the city and 60% of the users now are delivery workers.”
“A large number of people don’t have a valid DL or address proof. Riding a Yulu Miracle is almost the same as riding a bicycle. While the average cost of a Yulu is Rs 2.5/km, it is Rs 4.5/km for petrol-run two-wheelers,” he said.
Vivekananda Hallekere, co-founder and CEO of Bounce, said: “Many delivery workers are relying on the Bounce e-scooter since it is cheaper. Also, rising fuel costs and no reimbursement from aggregators are major concerns for gig workers.”
Yulu has introduced special rental packages (Rs 180-190 a day) for delivery workers to cover 70-80km a day. “A delivery worker earns an average of Rs 900-1,000 daily. Using Yulu Miracle is cheaper for them. It will run a distance of 50-55km once it is fully charged. We have battery-swapping stations every 2km in places like the Central Business District, Koramangala, Whitefield, and Outer Ring Road. The average speed of the Yulu Miracle is 18-20kmph, while the maximum speed is 25Kmph" said Gupta.