Instamart has announced partnerships with Yulu and Yuma Energy to make electric two-wheelers easier to access for its delivery partners across India.
The move targets two big pain points for gig riders: the upfront cost of buying an EV and the downtime caused by charging. With India's last-mile delivery sector going electric fast, this deal could shape how other platforms support their fleets.
What The Partnership Includes
Under the Yuma Energy tie-up, Instamart will provide space at its PODs, or dark stores, for battery-swapping stations. Yuma runs over 2,000 swapping units, and each swap takes less than two minutes.
The first such station was inaugurated earlier in September at an Instamart POD. Instamart estimates that a delivery partner covering more than 90km a day may need two battery swaps.
Placing stations near dark stores could save riders up to 60 minutes of travel and waiting time daily, the company said.
Yulu Rental Cashback Scheme
Alongside the swapping network, Instamart is offering rental cashback to delivery partners who use Yulu electric two-wheelers on the platform. This reduces the upfront burden of switching from petrol to electric.
The programme began in May 2026. Thousands of riders have received incentives so far, and Instamart says rental costs for participants have dropped by up to 30%.
Why It Matters
Battery swapping is gaining ground in India because it removes long charging waits — a major hurdle for commercial two-wheeler users. For riders,uptime directly means earnings.
Deepak Nanwani, Yuma Energy's Head of Revenue and Operations, noted that EV economics for riders depend on both vehicle affordability and uptime. Combining EV access with swapping aims to cut downtime during deliveries.
Instamart, along with Swiggy, already works with more than 50 EV partners across the country. The company says the Yulu and Yuma tie-ups bring vehicle access, rental support and energy infrastructure together in one ecosystem.
What To Expect Next
More swapping stations are likely to come up at participating Instamart PODs as the rollout continues. If the cost savings hold, similar models could spread across India's quick-commerce and food delivery sectors, further pushing two-wheeler electrification.