In a development that is set to electrify the country, Hero MotoCorp, one of the largest manufacturers of motorcycles and scooters, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, have collaborated to set up charging infrastructure for two-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs) across the country.

Aligned with its vision to ‘Be the future of mobility' and with its aim to drive the growth of EVs, Hero MotoCorp has become the first automotive OEM to tie up with the leading Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) to set up charging infrastructure across the length and breadth of India.

Bharat Petroleum, accelerating its focus on new business segments for sustainable growth, announced in September 2021 that it will be converting 7000 conventional retail outlets into energy stations providing multiple fuelling options, including an EV charging facility medium to long term.

The two mega entities will first establish a substantial charging infrastructure at the existing nationwide energy station network and subsequently broaden the collaboration to develop more synergies within the EV ecosystem and adjacent business verticals, enabling prospects throughout the customer lifecycle.

Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Sustainability has been a key pillar of growth within the Hero MotoCorp global ecosystem. In addition to developing world-class and tech-driven sustainable emerging mobility solutions, we are also making significant efforts to build a robust EV ecosystem and offer the most advanced services to customers. The partnership with BPCL, which is already at the forefront of customer energy solutions, will benefit both the EV segment and customers. This collaboration will also unlock opportunities for asset allocation and expansion in the future."

In the first phase, Hero MotoCorp will start with setting up charging stations across nine cities, starting with Delhi and Bengaluru. The network will be then expanded across the country to establish a high density of charging stations. Each charging station will feature multiple charging points, including DC and AC chargers and will be available for use to all two-wheeled EVs. The entire user charging experience will be controlled by a Hero MotoCorp mobile app and a cashless transaction model.

 "Bharat Petroleum has been pioneers in providing innovative mobility-related solutions to consumers in the field of energy. Our ‘Pure for Sure' customer promise launched at the turn of the century brought in a whole new paradigm in consumer trust and transparency at the point of sale, and our expansive digital embrace has added new dimensions in convenience and personalisation, thereby enriching our customer engagement processes," said Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL.

The massive Bharat Petroleum energy station network will also provide accelerated opportunities to expand the scope of operations and services. The companies may utilise the gateways created to make additional investments into building a robust EV ecosystem.