Electric mobility start-ups promise cheaper rides, but can they scale up?

Evolution of successful business models in electric mobility, as electric vehicles gain ground and BS VI norms for internal combustion vehicles come into place, will separate men from boys in sector

Up against competition from deep-pocketed cab-hailing giants Uber and Ola, start-ups in the electric mobility space will not just need relentless financial support from investors but must scale up quickly to be visible in the city crowd, and stay top of mind. Currently, these small players are banking on service differentiators to establish a foothold. “Incumbent (cab-hailing) service providers are largely disorganised as a sector and use mainly diesel vehicles to perform these services. We have an integrated service offering that includes charging infrastructure, drivers, onsite staff, fleet management technology and assurance,” says Sanjay Krishnan, chief executive officer, Lithium Urban