Hero MotoCorp announced that it has partnered with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd in order to create a charging infrastructure for electric 2-wheelers in the country.
The initiative will see the two companies first charging infrastructure at the existing fuel stations of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL). There is a possibility of expanding the collaboration to further business opportunities.
The first phase will see charging stations being set up in selected cities. This will then be extended to other key markets in the hope of creating a dense network of EV charging stations across the country.
It said that the two-wheeler major would lead infrastructure development for the EV charging network, with each charging station offering multiple fast chargers (DC chargers and AC chargers). This will be available for all two-wheeled EVs.
A Hero MotoCorp App will control the entire user charging experience. It is based on a cashless transactional model.
“We believe that a smooth and rapid adoption of EVs will be possible only when the customers have easy and convenient access to the supporting infrastructure, especially public charging, and our collaboration with HPCL will go a long way in meeting this requirement,” Hero MotoCorp Chairman and CEO Pawan Munjal stated.
The company plans to launch its first model of an electric vehicle next month.
“With our vast network comprising more than 20,000 retail outlets and Hero MotoCorp having its strong presence in the two-wheeler segment bring a unique strategic partnership to create a pan-India electric charging infrastructure and providing end-to-end EV charging solutions,” HPCL Chairman & Managing Director Pushp Kumar Joshi said.
He said that the initiative was important because more than 60% of EVs in the country are driven by two-wheelers.
