India’s Battery Swapping Revolution Gains Traction with Deliveries and Rickshaws at the Forefront – EQ
In Short : India’s battery-swapping market is booming, driven by rapid EV adoption in delivery services and electric rickshaws. With over 2,600 kiosks already in place, the country may need 111,000 by 2030. Startups like Battery Smart and Yulu lead the expansion. Battery swapping lowers EV costs and reduces downtime, but challenges like standardization and infrastructure investment remain.
In Detail : India’s electric vehicle revolution is gaining momentum, especially in the two- and three-wheeler segments, where battery swapping is emerging as a transformative solution. This technology allows drivers to quickly replace used batteries with fully charged ones at dedicated kiosks, drastically reducing the downtime associated with conventional charging. It’s proving particularly useful for commercial users like delivery agents and auto-rickshaw drivers.
These sectors are heavily dependent on efficient, uninterrupted operations, making battery swapping an ideal solution. As the demand for rapid and reliable power grows, driven by quick-commerce and urban transport needs, companies are racing to expand their swapping infrastructure. However, challenges such as the lack of standardized battery formats and the need for significant investment in infrastructure continue to pose hurdles.
Currently, India is home to around 2,600 battery-swapping kiosks, with most located in urban areas like Delhi. According to projections, this number must grow to over 26,000 by the end of the current fiscal year and reach about 111,000 by 2030 to meet the rising demand from electric vehicle adoption.
Startups are playing a pivotal role in expanding battery swapping networks. Battery Smart, a startup founded by IIT-Kanpur graduates, operates more than 1,200 stations in over 35 cities and facilitates approximately 100,000 swaps each day. Yulu, another key player in micromobility, has launched Yuma Energy in partnership with Magna International, supporting over a million swaps monthly.
One of the key advantages of battery swapping is its financial model. By decoupling battery ownership from the vehicle, it reduces the upfront cost of electric vehicles, making them more accessible to a wider population. Drivers benefit from flexible subscription plans, paying only for the energy they consume—an attractive model for cost-conscious markets.
Despite its benefits, battery swapping in India still faces key challenges. The lack of battery design standardization hampers interoperability, and the growth of the infrastructure requires substantial capital and supportive policy frameworks. Continued investment and government support will be essential to ensure the sector reaches its full potential in supporting India’s transition to sustainable transport.
