Ola has announced that it will add 10,000 electric auto-rickshaws to its fleet in India over the next 12 months. The program, called Mission: Electric, is part of its ambitious plan to put one million electric vehicles on the road by 2021.
The company is looking to harness the immense potential offered by electric three-wheelers, which can offer commuting in a better, faster and cost-effective manner. The decision comes on the basis of successful execution of its first pilot EV project, which has seen over 200 electric cars, e-rickshaws and electric autos plying in the city of Nagpur since May 2017.
“Three wheelers are a vital means of transportation and a source of livelihood for millions of people every day. It also represents an immediate opportunity to improve outcomes for all stakeholders while reducing pollution across towns and cities,” said Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of Ola.
Ola is in discussion with several state governments to create an appropriate policy environment to deploy electric three wheelers. The company is also talking to OEM partners and EV innovators globally to bring vehicles on the road in a planned and phased manner. With the addition of 10,000 vehicles across three cities this year, Ola is quickly set to become one of the largest EV fleet operators in the world.
