In a significant move to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in India, The Climate Pledge—co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism—has announced a new initiative called Joint Operation Unifying Last-mile Electrification (JOULE). This $2.65 million project aims to build a network of shared EV charging stations across Bengaluru, India’s tech capital, powered entirely by renewable energy. The first charging station at Doddakallasandra is now operational.
JOULE’s objective is to support over 5,500 electric vehicles by 2030 and fill the infrastructure gaps that have hindered corporate fleet transitions to EVs. The project will be supported by key industry partners, including Kazam, which will develop the network of charging stations, and renewable energy provider Greenko. By 2030, the project is projected to save over 11.2 million litres of fuel and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by an estimated 25,700 tonnes. The initiative is expected to create 185 full-time jobs in Bengaluru from 2024 to 2030.
Signatories of The Climate Pledge—including Amazon, Mahindra Logistics, Uber, HCLTech, and Magenta Mobility—will optimise the use of these EV charging stations to ensure efficient infrastructure utilisation for their fleet operations.
Abhinav Singh, VP of Operations at Amazon India, commented, “JOULE advances our goal of deploying 10,000 EVs in India by 2025. We’re proud to be part of this initiative to expand charging infrastructure in Bengaluru.”
Gunjan Krishna, Industries Commissioner of Karnataka, hailed the initiative as a significant milestone in India’s push for increased EV adoption. “This project showcases the power of public-private partnerships in driving our country towards a sustainable future,” Krishna noted.
Five more charging stations are expected to become operational by the end of 2024, with further expansion planned to meet the growing demand for EV infrastructure in the city.
Amazon has been a leader in sustainability, decarbonising its global operations and increasing its EV fleet worldwide. With over 7,300 EVs already in its Indian delivery network, Amazon is on track to reach 10,000 EVs in the country by 2025.
The JOULE project builds on Amazon’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, aligning with its goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of the Paris Agreement’s target.
