India’s last-mile delivery network—comprised of millions of couriers, riders and micro-entrepreneurs—has quietly become the engine of the country’s digital economy. As e-commerce, food delivery and local commerce expand, so does the pressure on delivery logistics to be faster, cheaper and cleaner. Electric mobility, and specifically the model of eBikes-on-rent and eMaaS (Electric Mobility-as-a-Service), is rapidly reshaping that equation: lowering operating costs for riders and businesses, shrinking emissions, and creating more flexible work options for gig workers who power India’s delivery boom.
Electrifying delivery: compelling case
The case for electrifying the delivery fleet is straightforward: eBikes have far lower running and maintenance costs than petrol vehicles, can be deployed quickly at scale, and are economically well-suited to short, dense urban routes. Analysis of eBikes shows a significantly lower total cost of ownership because of cheaper energy per kilometre (1/6th of petrol) and fewer moving parts to service. Fleet studies in India and abroad also find that introducing eBikes into mixed fleets reduces cost-per-parcel while improving route efficiency in congested city centres.
eBikes: rental and eMaaS model
But buying vehicles up front is still out of reach for many delivery riders and small merchants. That’s where rental and subscription eMaaS models make a difference. The subscription offering—“eBikes on rent”—packages the vehicle, insurance, telematics, maintenance and breakdown support into an all-inclusive plan, eliminating large capital expenditure and many operating headaches for riders and small delivery operators. These plans offer zero fuel expense, minimal maintenance worries, IoT/GPS tracking, and even options that don’t require a licence or registration for lower-speed unregistered models. All these things make it simple for new riders to switch to electric.
Delivery workers: cost economics
For delivery workers, the benefits of eBike switching are both immediate and tangible. On a daily basis, riders switch to charging costs from fuelling expenses, translating into hefty savings of up to 30% a month. Reduced maintenance and breakdown support also means less downtime, something that is critical for gig workers paid on a per-delivery basis.
The switch to eBikes also saves over a million tonnes of CO₂ that would have otherwise been released into the environment. Subscription eMaaS also delivers organisational and operational gains for delivery companies. Fleet managers can standardise vehicles, use telematics, and scale capacity easily during peak seasons. For small businesses, eBike renting helps expand reach without heavy capital outlay.
Electrifying delivery: challenges and issues
Charging infrastructure, battery life, and swap logistics are still patchy outside major metros. Some eBikes require rider training, and subscription terms must be laid out fairly. Crucially, the mobility interventions, such as eBikes, must be paired with social and financial protections for riders. This includes offering insurance, predictable earnings and access to grievance redressal to these last-mile connectivity couriers. Further, the rapid growth in India’s digital and delivery-oriented gig workforce underscores the urgency of inclusive solutions that combine technology with worker protections.
eBikes: Future Outlook
Electric mobility on rent is not a silver bullet, but it is an enabling tool. For India’s delivery workforce—whose daily struggles often happen unseen in rain, heat and congested streets—the eMaaS model offers a pragmatic pathway to lower costs, steadier income, safer vehicles and a smaller carbon footprint. A few service providers have illustrated how bundling vehicles, service and technology into accessible subscriptions can convert structural barriers into manageable operating expenses. These subscription models must enable riders and small businesses to deliver the best value to their customers while garnering the best profitability prospects.
As urban India writes the next chapter of its logistics story, eBikes on flexible rental plans will be a central plotline. With focused infrastructure, fair subscriptions, and encouraging policies, the sight of eBikes humming through neighbourhoods will be more than a symbol of modernity. It will be proof that sustainable, inclusive growth for India’s delivery workforce is both possible and already underway.
