Instamart is expanding its battery-swapping network to support greater adoption of electric two-wheelers among last-mile delivery partners by placing swapping stations closer to its micro-fulfilment centres, or dark stores. The quick-commerce platform is partnering with Yulu and Yuma Energy to address key barriers to EV adoption, including the cost of electric vehicles and downtime associated with charging. Under the initiative, Yuma Energy will install battery-swapping stations at Instamart’s dark-store locations, with the first facility recently launched at a Bengaluru site. Yuma currently operates more than 2,000 swapping units, with each battery exchange taking less than two minutes. Instamart said delivery partners travelling more than 90 km a day may require two battery swaps, and locating stations near dark stores could save up to an hour in travel and waiting time daily. Separately, Instamart is offering rental cashback incentives to delivery partners using Yulu electric two-wheelers, aimed at lowering the upfront cost of switching to EVs and reducing exposure to fluctuating fuel prices. The company said thousands of delivery partners have benefited from the programme since its launch in May, with participating riders seeing rental costs reduced by up to 30%. Instamart, along with Swiggy, works with more than 50 EV partners across India, and said its collaborations with Yulu and Yuma Energy will further strengthen access to electric vehicles and convenient energy infrastructure for last-mile delivery.
