Consumers demand EVs in last-mile delivery

The survey ‘Consumer Perceptions & Insights in the Last Mile Delivery Sector for the Transition to Electric Vehicles (EV)’, underscores the progressive attitudes and choices of consumers. It assessed public concerns about air pollution caused by last-mile deliveries and gauged the demand for brands such as Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, and Swiggy to adopt EVs. 

A recent study by the Sustainability Mobility Network (SMN) reveals that 98.1% of respondents from Bengaluru find the transition of company fleets to electric vehicles (EVs) crucial for reducing air pollution and emissions. 

The study, titled ‘Consumer Perceptions & Insights in the Last Mile Delivery Sector for the Transition to Electric Vehicles (EV)’, was released during a webinar on World EV Day, September 9. It highlights that over 80% of respondents in Bengaluru are willing to support brands committed to emission reduction.

The study focuses on last-mile delivery, which refers to the final step of transporting goods from distribution hubs to customers. As of 2024, this sector contributes 5 lakh tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Consumers from other cities in Karnataka, including Hubli-Dharwad, were also surveyed alongside Bengaluru.

Rajeev Gowda, Deputy Chairperson of the State Institute for Transformation of Karnataka, emphasized the state government’s efforts to streamline policies aimed at reducing emissions in collaboration with aggregators. 

Mohandas Pai, Vice President of Bangalore Political Action Committee, noted that consumers in Bengaluru expect their delivery companies to lead in sustainability and technology adoption, given the city’s role as a tech hub.

The study surveyed 3,800 respondents across 10 cities in six states, including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Asansol, Kolkata, Coimbatore, Chennai, Hubli-Dharwad, and Ahmedabad. It assessed public perception of air pollution caused by last-mile deliveries and gauged demand for EV adoption by brands like Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, and DHL, among others. The findings underscore growing consumer expectations for businesses to adopt EVs as part of their sustainability strategies.