Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, and the transportation industry is a significant part of the crisis. In this industry, last-mile delivery the last stretch from distribution hubs to consumers’ doorsteps is a key battlefield in combating growing carbon emissions. With e-commerce and now quick commerce continuing its runaway expansion, electric last-mile delivery is key to climate action has never been more critical.
The Last-Mile Carbon Crisis
The last-mile delivery emissions of India tell a grim story. As per ESG foundation, India’s emissions stand at 285 grams of CO2 per delivery, which is significantly greater than the global weighted average at 204 gCO2. India’s five metro cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Chennai alone emit more CO2 for last-mile deliveries than countries as a whole such as France or Canada. Without intervention, carbon emissions from urban delivery traffic could surge by 60% by 2030 globally, with last-mile delivery accounting for approximately 54% of transport emissions.
The magnitude is humongous. India’s online shopping market is expected to increase from 400 crore parcels delivered every year to 4,000 crore parcels by 2030. This tenfold expansion could create 80 lakh tonnes of CO2 every year equivalent to the emissions released by 16.5 lakh petrol vehicles or 20 gas-fired power plants. To capture one year of these emissions would mean planting more than 100 crore trees and waiting for ten years for them to grow.
Zero-Emission Solution at Scale
Electric vehicles represent a current and quantifiable solution. Compared to traditional cars that make up India’s logistics fleet with 90% running on diesel or petrol and producing approximately 200 million tons of CO2 emissions each year electric vehicles emit no tailpipe emissions. Across their entire lifecycle, EVs reduce carbon emissions by 50% compared to combustion-based equivalents. The direct effect turns ESG commitments into audited environmental evidence.
The on-the-ground outcomes reflect scalability. Electric mobility solutions have already made more than 20.5 million zero-emission deliveries in India, eliminating 2.5 million kilograms of carbon emissions. Large e-commerce companies have pledged to make their whole last-mile fleet electric vehicles by 2030 as part of 2040 net-zero emissions plans, and food delivery companies are working towards similar electrification efforts.
Beyond Carbon: Encompassing Environmental Benefits
Electric last-mile delivery solves several environmental issues at once. The vehicles do away with local emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)the same pollutants that form ground-level ozone and respiratory diseases. The World Health Organisation blames more than 7 million premature deaths each year globally for air pollution, 400,000 of which occur in Europe alone. By transitioning to electric vehicles, delivery firms greatly enhance urban air quality and contribute to collective health safeguarding.
Electric vehicles also lower noise pollution, allowing for longer delivery windows in noise-constrained areas and making for quieter, more habitable cities. This change is in keeping with the Paris Agreement’s goals to cap global temperature increase at 1.5°C by the end of the century.
Economic Viability Accelerates Adoption
The commercial case for electric last-mile delivery enhances green imperatives. Off-peak power deals levelize energy bills, while reduced drivetrain complexity obviates oil changes, belts, and exhaust treatment. India’s EV fleet could lower CO2 emissions by 5 million tons per year by 2030, with meaningful operating savings making electrification economically viable. Zypp Electric has solely reduced more than 55 million Kgs of carbon emissions through its 110Mn million emission-free deliveries on it’s more than 20,000 EVs.
Electric three-wheelers are best suited for last-mile delivery, with the same range as traditional vehicles but at a much lower cost to operate. This economic and environmental advantage makes electric vehicles the sustainable option for India’s logistics industry in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
The Way Forward
Shifting to electric last-mile delivery is more than technological adoption it’s a paradigm shift towards climate consciousness. With smaller last-mile fulfilment centres potentially reducing 2025 last-mile emissions by 17-26%, and electric vehicle uptake reducing combustion emissions to zero, the logistics sector has a unique ability to fight climate change. Businesses need to act now to pledge 100% zero-emission deliveries by 2030 and report in full on their emissions milestones. Electric last-mile delivery is no one of a series of options it is the solution to decarbonizing urban logistics and securing our planet’s future.
