“We are here for a reason. We are on a mission to steer urban India towards a sustainable means of transportation and to provide them efficient, affordable, intelligent, safe and reliable mobility.”
BluSmart Mobility, founded in 2019, aimed to provide sustainable ride-sharing in urban India. It’s the country’s first electric shared mobility platform offering efficient and affordable services. Their fleet includes Mahindra e-Verito, Tata e-Tigor, Tata Xpres-T EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and MG ZS Electric.
In recent years, BluSmart has gained a foothold in Delhi NCR and Bangalore, and is currently leading the all-electric ride-hailing market with the largest electric fleet and fast charging station network.
The Initial Idea
It was after gaining hands-on experience in technology and transportation that the three founders, Tushar Garg, Anirudh Arun, and Rishabh Sood, decided to build something of their own in the ride-hailing industry.
Tushar, a co-founder of SKEduSoft, joined forces with Anirudh and Rishabh, leveraging their expertise from Uber India. The team launched their first electric vehicle on Uber’s platform in 2019, gaining crucial insights despite initial challenges.
The journey for BluSmart has not been an easy one, and while building everything, they had to face their share of skepticism. However, what matters more is that they never lost sight of their vision, and remained determined to revolutionize environmentally friendly transportation.
Services Offered
In terms of the services that they provide, Blusmart offers services like ride-sharing through its app, and the app can be downloaded on Android and iOS. The users have plenty of options to choose from shared rides, hourly rentals, and airport transportation, especially in Delhi NCR and Bangalore.
For drivers, BluSmart offers opportunities to operate electric vehicles at zero ownership cost, with benefits like insurance coverage, incentives based on performance, weekly earnings, and flexible working hours.
The Business and Revenue Model
BluSmart operates on a B2C model, offering direct services to end-users with an asset-light approach, leasing their entire fleet of electric cars. These vehicles are sourced from entities like EESL and high-net-worth individuals, aligning with BluSmart’s commitment to sustainability.
Their diverse fleet includes popular electric car models like Mahindra e-Verito, Tata e-Tigor, Tata Xpres-T EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, and MG ZS Electric. BluSmart generates revenue through customer payments for taxi services and additional income from charging services offered to other electric vehicle owners, positioning itself as a major player in India’s electric mobility sector.
Journey So Far
BluSmart’s journey has been marked by remarkable growth and achievements, solidifying its position as a pioneer in India’s electric transportation sector. With over 10 million emission-free rides completed by November 2023, BluSmart has emerged as a leader in environmentally sustainable urban mobility, serving over 1 million satisfied customers and covering more than 370 million clean kilometers since its inception in 2019, resulting in a reduction of over 24,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Operating a fleet of approximately 5,000 electric vehicles across Bangalore and Delhi NCR, BluSmart has demonstrated significant expansion, achieving an average revenue run rate of Rs 400 crore by August 2023, representing a remarkable 60% increase from the previous fiscal year.
In January 2024, BluSmart garnered attention with the introduction of a novel pricing system, distinguishing between ‘rush hours’ and ‘relaxed hours’ to prioritize affordability during off-peak times, setting itself apart from industry giants like Ola Cabs and Uber. This move, coupled with a focus on enhanced services, transparency, and eco-friendliness, reinforces BluSmart’s leadership in advancing environmentally friendly transportation methods and challenging traditional commuting norms.
Through unwavering dedication to emission-free travel, BluSmart has not only achieved remarkable growth but also established itself as a trailblazer in promoting sustainable transportation practices in India, setting a precedent for the future of urban mobility.
The Challenges Faced
BluSmart encountered significant hurdles, primarily due to India’s insufficient EV charging infrastructure, impeding their hub-to-hub business model. The scarcity of charging stations posed a challenge to expansion plans, prompting the company to tackle this issue head-on by installing its charging infrastructure.
To overcome infrastructure limitations, BluSmart established in-house charging hubs, ensuring efficient charging and minimizing vehicle downtime. This proactive approach underscores their commitment to addressing infrastructure-related obstacles.
Moreover, BluSmart leverages advanced technology to optimize fleet deployment. Their internal algorithm for rider and driver matching optimizes routes, reducing the risk of vehicles running out of charge. By harnessing sophisticated algorithms and data analytics, BluSmart enhances the reliability of its electric mobility service.
Plans Ahead
In response to the dominance of Uber and Ola Cabs, BluSmart is gearing up for a substantial expansion across India. As reported on January 8, 2024, the company, currently operating in Bangalore and Delhi NCR, plans to ramp up its fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) to approximately 8,000 units across both regions within the next year.
This ambitious move underscores BluSmart’s positioning as a key player in the evolving landscape of environmentally friendly and sustainable transportation. It reflects the company’s strategic response to the ride-hailing industry’s increasing focus on EVs, signaling its commitment to driving forward the adoption of electric mobility solutions in India.
Read more: How BluSmart is Revolutionizing Urban Mobility in India with Sustainable Electric Ride-Sharing
