Grofers goes electric: The online grocery startup will make deliveries via e-rickshaws in Delhi-NCR

Having announced fresh fundings of Rs 400 crores recently, online grocery startup Grofers has reportedly commenced delivery operations in the national capital region via e-rickshaws. The move is expected to reduce delivery cost by about 25 percent and the company is aiming to get about 50 e-rickshaws on Delhi-NCR roads in the next few months.

In addition to reducing the cost of deliveries by about 25 percent, upsizing of the environment-friendly fleet of electric vehicles will help Grofers help cater to their increasing orders.

As per the report in TOI, the e-vehicle delivery service will first be rolled out to customers in Delhi. Post which it will extended to other regions. Grofers co-founder and CEO Albinder Dhindsa said, “To keep pace with the quick adoption of online groceries in Delhi-NCR, we are strengthening our delivery operations. E-rickshaws are ideal for last-mile connectivity.”

Earlier this month, the Gurgaon-based startup had announced their round of funding led by the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, among other investors including Tiger Global and Russian billionaire,  Yuri Milner-backed Apoletto Asia.

Despite the its topsy turvy journey since inception in 2013 within the segment of selling groceries online and among increasing competition from both foreign and Indian companies like Amazon and BigBasket, the startup managed to raise its second round of funding.

With currently 23 warehouses, operating in 13 cities across India, Grofers is looking to utilise the funds for developing technology and infrastructure and improve on services in the cities they are already present in  – as opposed to expanding.