BLive, a pioneering EV platform providing end-to-end e-mobility solutions, is revolutionizing the last-mile delivery industry with its innovative Ezy Fleet program. By leveraging the power of electric bikes, BLive’s Ezy Fleet program offers an efficient and sustainable transportation solution tailored for delivery executives. This initiative not only simplifies the logistics of daily operations but also accelerates the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country. With a focus on integrating EV solutions seamlessly into existing infrastructure, BLive aims to optimize fleet management, enhance battery performance, and promote sustainable transportation practices. Through strategic partnerships and a comprehensive ecosystem, BLive is set to transform the landscape of last-mile delivery, making it more environmentally friendly and economically viable.
In a recent interview, Abdullah interacted with Samarth Kholkar, the CEO and the co-founder of BLive in which he discuss about BLive’s core mission, EV solutions with existing infrastructure and system, optimizing charging infrastructure and battery performance, sustainable transportation and reducing carbon emissions.
Question: Can you provide a brief overview of BLive and its core mission?
BLive has been around for the last five years. We are likely one of the pioneers in the EV ecosystem. We were present long before some of today’s big brands made their mark in the EV space. Our mission has always been to drive awareness, provide access to EVs, and thereby promote the adoption of electric vehicles across the country.
We began with EV rentals deployed at tourist locations and have since expanded to operate a multi-brand EV platform. Today, we have established ourselves as a premier name in the EV ecosystem by focusing on driving adoption. We have achieved this by creating multiple EV fleet operators across the country. We essentially function as the operating system for many EV fleet operators. This includes not only existing operators but also aspiring EV entrepreneurs who see an opportunity to start their own fleet and participate in the growing B2C, e-commerce, health tech, and fast commerce businesses we have supported for a long time.
We have successfully enabled these vehicles nationwide. We have formed over 70 partnerships, including collaborations with manufacturers like PBS and Ather, finance companies like Oto and Eco5, insurance companies like Insurance Dekho, as well as charging companies, extended warranty providers, and roadside assistance services. We have essentially brought the entire ecosystem together.
Additionally, we have specific tie-ups and partnerships with demand aggregators like Zomato, who require EVs for their fleet. We connect these demand aggregators with EV companies and the fleet operators in our ecosystem. Over time, we have built a comprehensive network that supports the growing preference for EVs, helping us achieve our core mission of promoting the adoption of electric vehicles throughout India.
Question: What BLive EV solution addresses the uniqueness and the needs and the challenges of these electric vehicle owners?
Sure. So, look at it this way. I will explain this in a slightly more detailed manner. Consider the entire lifecycle or value chain. For example, a food aggregator is onboarding multiple delivery executives onto their platform. These delivery executives often lack their own credit rating or credit history, but they need a vehicle to earn their daily income.
To facilitate this, they go to a fleet operator, rent a vehicle, and use it on a day-to-day basis. With the growing demand in the gig economy, which currently includes about 4 to 5 million workers and is expected to grow to 8 million by 2030, particularly in the delivery segment, EVs are an ideal solution due to their lower cost of ownership.
However, without the middle layer of fleet operators, accessibility to EVs for these gig workers would be limited. This is where we decided to bring the entire ecosystem together for the fleet operator. We provide support in terms of demand from aggregators, financing, insurance, and technology to manage the entire fleet, allowing the fleet operator to focus on their core competency of running operations.
Imagine a fleet operator who otherwise would need to ensure the vehicles are running, manage relationships with aggregators, retrieve vehicles, handle spares and service, and secure financing from multiple companies. With our platform, they have one point of interaction for all these needs. This increases the adoption of EVs among delivery executives, serving our purpose as well.
Our solution is highly differentiated because we stay close to the market and users. The industry is clearly segmented into individual users and commercial users. For commercial users, it’s all about the total cost of ownership (TCO) and maximizing vehicle use. This makes it very attractive for fleet operators and delivery executives to switch to EVs.
Companies like Zomato have declared their goal to be 100% electric by 2030. The push towards EVs is driven by both economic factors and sustainability. We are strengthening our position by offering unique financial models like rent-to-own for premium EVs, in partnership with various finance partners. This encourages gig workers to care for the vehicles more, extending their life.
Good vehicles also reduce physical stress for workers, who often drive 120 to 150 kilometers a day. Our aim is to support the gig economy worker segment through innovative solutions, benefiting them and promoting the EV ecosystem. The introduction of BLive into the EV market is very helpful, as the EV ecosystem is at a crucial stage right now. Our solutions to electric vehicle ownership are innovative and beneficial for everyone involved.
Question: Can you provide insights into the integration process of BLive’s EV solution with existing infrastructure and systems?
Today, there are multiple fleet operators in the market, both organized and unorganized. If we consider only the organized sector and focus on EVs, there are probably close to one lakh EVs, or maybe 70,000 to 80,000 EVs, among the organized players. However, some large demand aggregators, such as food delivery companies, have around five lakh delivery executives on their platforms individually. When you multiply that number by those in e-commerce, fast commerce, and other sectors, the figures skyrocket.
This reveals a significant disparity between the number of delivery personnel and the number of EVs available. Upon closer examination, we found that most large operators struggle to move from one location to another due to their unique unit economics. Their vertical integration means they are heavily involved in various operations and demand-side management. Consequently, they may have fleets numbering in the thousands, but starting operations in a new location, especially a tier-two city, becomes challenging in terms of maintaining unit economics. Therefore, major players typically focus on one, two, or at most three cities at a time.
In contrast, our model allows for easy partnerships. For example, if A person wants to become a fleet operator on the BLive platform, he can start operating in a specific area like Lajpat Nagar with a fleet of just 30 to 50 vehicles, rather than needing 100 or 200 vehicles. This approach provides the independence to manage a small fleet, gain experience, and grow gradually.
BLive will arrange the vehicles through our tie-ups with OEMs, evaluate your financial background, and secure the necessary financing. We also provide insurance, extended warranties, spare parts, premium service, and preferential treatment through our exclusive agreements with OEMs.
When A person starts his EV fleet business, his primary responsibility will be ensuring the vehicles are operational. BLive will handle the demand and send it his way. A person will earn monthly revenue from the vehicles in operation. This creates a beneficial partnership, allowing us to support many local operators.
India is like 30 countries in one, with varied local conditions. Therefore, we built a robust platform to support fleet operators, providing them with technology to manage their fleets. This includes locating riders, conducting KYC, and other necessary functions, all integrated into a single platform. This approach makes BLive an integral part of the fleet operators’ ecosystem.
Question: What measures does BLive’s EV solution implement to optimize charging efficiency and battery performance?
In the fleet business, the typical travel distance for a two-wheeler is usually around 100 to 150 kilometers. Currently, no two-wheelers can provide that kind of range. Therefore, the only two options available are to either charge the vehicle or swap the battery. With removable batteries, you can replace a depleted battery with a fully charged one.
We have partnered with the ecosystem in such a way that we have charging partners, and we are also introducing vehicles with swapping technology. This approach mitigates the risk of someone being stranded due to a depleted battery. As a platform that enables fleet operators, we offer multiple options to manage and run their fleets efficiently. We also encourage them to set up charging stations on their premises, ensuring that every vehicle that comes in can be automatically charged.
As operations grow and more vehicles are on the road, we will track them to identify hot zones where our vehicles operate. We will then deploy charging or swapping technology in those specific areas. With increased volume and more data coming onto the platform, we analyze everything to improve operations and vehicle usability.
Technology in the EV sector is evolving rapidly. Currently, most two-wheelers do not have fast charging capabilities, but we have been in discussions with OEMs who are developing products that will offer fast charging. This means vehicles can run faster, and longer, and have no downtime due to low battery levels. These are the areas we focus on, and based on data from current vehicle usage, we continuously improve our service offerings for fleet operators.
Question: What are the benefits of renting an EV through BLive compared to traditional rental companies or purchasing a vehicle outright?
One of the things we’ve learned from speaking often with end users is that we initially assumed delivery executives would be okay with any sort of vehicle and wouldn’t have specific aspirations. However, for many of us, our first bicycle, scooter, or car is something we always remember, regardless of our background. In this case, a rent-to-own model is very unique. A delivery executive from a nearby village can use the vehicle for a period of one to three years and then have the opportunity to own it. This model addresses the aspirations of these individuals, which is very unique in our world.
The rent-to-own model isn’t just for any vehicle; we offer high-quality options like the TVS iQube. This means that when delivery executives move around within their communities, they do so with pride, rather than feeling embarrassed by using a lower-tier vehicle. Additionally, we integrate features such as geolocation and battery management systems, allowing us to track data through backend integration. These connected EVs provide valuable data that benefits not only us but also manufacturers, as we share insights with them about vehicle performance and usage.
When we talk to finance companies, they appreciate that we filter out cases before bringing them forward, which builds their confidence in us and strengthens our partnerships. As our volume grows, finance companies are more willing to offer us better terms, which we then pass on to the end user, starting with fleet operators. Our goal for the next year is to deploy 10,000 EVs across India. While this might seem like a small number, the intent is to build a comprehensive service that covers all aspects of fleet life cycle requirements. This is just a small step towards a larger goal, aiming to connect with fleet operations on an emotional level and succeed in bringing the EV ecosystem to everyone.
Question: What role does BLive play in promoting sustainable transportation and reducing carbon emissions through its EV fleet operations?
So, I think if you read some of the articles already published about us, you’ll see mentions of the EV rentals we operate or the initiatives we’ve undertaken. Sustainability is at our core, but we don’t constantly drumbeat about it. Our actions should speak for themselves. The idea is that as we collaborate with large partners—whether they’re demand aggregators, enterprises, or corporations—we can show them the tangible green benefits of partnering with Be Live. This documentation of success through collective action has a far greater impact than any individual effort. It’s not about standing on the rooftop and shouting about our achievements; it’s about the entire ecosystem standing together and making a collective impact. That’s our goal.
We aim for our impact to be broad and far-reaching, which is why we are creating fleet operators everywhere. These operators become ambassadors of change and sustainability within their respective regions, territories, or localities. The message of sustainability has to be shared collectively to be truly effective. We can’t win this battle alone; we must take everyone along with us to achieve our goals.