In less than a year since the initial deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, Maersk is gearing up to bolster its EV fleet, scaling it up to over 500 vehicles. These vehicles will be strategically spread across 26 cities, serving as the linchpin for first-mile, middle-mile, and last-mile distribution operations throughout India.
Mumbai: A.P. Moller – Maersk (commonly known as Maersk) has set forth a bold vision of achieving net-zero emissions across its entire business by the year 2040. This ambitious goal hinges on the imperative to decarbonize logistics operations at every stage. It is not merely a mission for Maersk alone but a response to the growing demand from environmentally-conscious customers who seek sustainable supply chain solutions.
In September 2022, Maersk took a significant step by introducing its fleet of three-wheeler and four-wheeler EVs in Mumbai, India. These vehicles were swiftly deployed to cater to the needs of the company’s first customer in the National Capital Region (NCR). Since then, awareness about the potential of EVs in transforming distribution logistics in India has surged, accompanied by an unprecedented surge in demand from multiple customers.
India, with its burgeoning market, exhibits constant growth in demand for distribution logistics. Notably, the e-commerce sector in India has experienced remarkable expansion in recent years and holds significant growth potential in the foreseeable future. This surge in e-commerce activities has concurrently generated a heightened demand, especially for middle-mile and last-mile distribution solutions. However, it’s worth emphasizing that this demand transcends mere distribution methods; customers are fervently pursuing the decarbonization of their supply chains, and Maersk is poised to facilitate this transformation with its burgeoning EV fleet in India.
Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director of Maersk South Asia, stated, “Maersk has recently forged partnerships with prominent e-commerce platforms in India to cater to their distribution needs. Our dedicated fleet of EVs, boasting capacities ranging from 550 to 700 Kgs and an impressive driving range of over 120 km, has already been deployed in over 15 cities, with plans to extend this presence to more than 300 EVs.”
Agarwal further highlighted the flexibility of Maersk’s EV fleet, stating, “Our diverse fleet ensures that customers have the flexibility to choose vehicles tailored to their specific cargo requirements and operational reach. Whether it’s nimble two-wheelers delivering fresh, ready-to-eat salads in the NCR region or transporting groceries and lifestyle products across the nation, our EVs are up to the task.”
As of now, Maersk’s EV fleet has collectively covered an impressive distance of over 135,000 km. Additionally, the company is investing in developing a robust charging infrastructure to support its growing EV fleet. This initiative includes exploring the utilization of solar energy at its own warehouses located across the country, further aligning with Maersk’s commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly logistics solutions.
