Jio-bp, TVS Motor collaborate on EV charging infra

Jio-bp and TVS Motor Company have entered a partnership to create public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for two-wheelers and three-wheelers. Jio-bp, the brand name for Reliance BP Mobility, already has a growing EV charging network in the country. Under this agreement, TVS electric vehicles are expected to access the widespread charging network of Jio-bp, which is also open to other vehicles, a joint statement from the two partners said on Tuesday.

Under their partnership, both companies will pool their strengths to create a regular AC charging network and a DC fast-charging network for electric vehicles. This will align with Jio-bp and TVS’ commitment to providing vast and reliable charging infrastructure to their customers, the joint statement read.

TVS Motor and Jio-bp will bring the best of their learnings in electrification amassed from around the world and apply them to the Indian market to create a differentiated customer experience. Both companies work together to create solutions for seamless customer journey on their respective smartphone applications.

Jio-bp, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and bp, currently operates a network of EV charging and swapping stations under the brand Jio-bp pulse. With the Jio-bp pulse Charge app, customers can easily find stations nearby to charge their electric vehicles. Jio-bp is also creating a charging ecosystem that will benefit all the stakeholders in the EV value chain.

Meanwhile, TVS is a major player in the electric mobility space with its iQube electric scooter. The Indian two-wheeler company claims to have sold 12,000 units of its high-speed electric scooter since launch. It has committed ₹1,000 crore towards EV business, a good portion of which has already been invested, the company said.

TVS Motor said it is also readying a complete portfolio of two- and three-wheelers in the range of 5-25kW, all of which will be in the market within the next 24 months.

Both companies have been signing deals with an eye on the electric mobility segment. Last year in September, Jio-bp had signed a deal with India’s first all-electric ride-hailing platform BluSmart to set up EV charging stations across India for passenger electric vehicles and fleets. The partnership includes collaboration in planning, development and operation of EV charging infrastructure, at suitable locations across cities where BluSmart operates. The EV charging stations rolled out in the first phase in National Capital Region (NCR) could accommodate a minimum of 30 vehicles at each station.

On the other hand, TVS Motor had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Power in October 2021 to collaborate on electric two-wheeler charging eco-system in India. The agreement aims to create a large dedicated electric two-wheeler charging infrastructure to accelerate electric mobility in India. This will also give the customers of TVS iQube access to the widespread charging network by Tata Power through the TVS Motor customer connect app and Tata Power EZ Charge app across India. Similar to the Jio-bp-TVS deal, this partnership aims to create a regular AC charging network and a DC fast-charging network for electric two-wheelers.