Hero partners with BPCL to set up EV charging infra

New Delhi: Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp on Tuesday said it has joined hands with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to set up charging infrastructure for two-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs) across the country.

Last year, BPCL had announced that it is converting 7,000 conventional retail outlets into energy stations providing multiple fuelling options, which will include EV charging facility also, in the medium to long term. As part of the collaboration, the two entities will first establish a substantial charging infrastructure at the existing nationwide energy station network. Subsequently, they may broaden the collaboration to develop more synergies within the EV ecosystem and adjacent business verticals, thereby enabling prospects throughout the customer life cycle. In the first phase, charging stations will be set up across nine cities starting with Delhi and Bengaluru. The network will be then expanded across the country with the aim to establish a high density of charging stations.

"The partnership with BPCL, which is already at the forefront of customer energy solutions, will be beneficial for both the EV segment and customers. This collaboration will also unlock opportunities for asset allocation and expansion in the future," Hero MotoCorp Chairman and CEO Pawan Munjal said in a statement. In addition to developing world-class and tech-driven sustainable emerging mobility solutions, the company is also making significant efforts towards building a robust EV ecosystem and offering the most advanced services to customers, he added.

BPCL Chairman and Managing Director Arun Kumar Singh said India's personal mobility is primarily driven by two-wheelers who form the largest part of the valued customer base. "Our alliance with Hero MotoCorp, global leader in the two-wheeler industry and with a fine penchant for innovation, is therefore a strategic step towards ushering in an era of best-in-class EV charging solutions for our customers in our energy stations and an exciting future of innovative solutions in the EV sector," he stated.

Hero MotoCorp said it will soon commence the infrastructure development in the two cities.