Car rental service provider Avis India is partnering e-mobility service provider Quikk India for developing integrated solutions for corporate electric mobility services. The partners say that they have developed an innovative, integrated AI-based model that combines transportation services along with access to a robust charging infrastructure, at costs broadly comparable with those of current ICE vehicles.

The partnership targets transforming the EV space with developments such as better battery performances and reduced EV cost over the next 12-18 months. The service will be first rolled out in the Delhi-NCR area, followed by other cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai. With the electrification of mobility requiring close collaboration between a variety of stakeholders, the partners say they will also cooperate closely with major EV manufacturers during the rollout of the new service.

Sunil Gupta, MD and CEO, Avis India said: “We are providing new-age and intelligent electric mobility solutions aimed at employee transportation and chauffeur-driven services in India."

Navjeet Singh Kalsi, MD, Quikk India explained that, “Quikk’s solutions allow fleets to migrate to EVs by providing a dedicated rapid charging infrastructure. Our solution is designed around customer needs and is cost-effective since it optimises the cost of the infrastructure and reduces vehicle idle and charging times. We are creating a dedicated virtual private network for use by a corporate fleet which scales seamlessly with growing business needs. We think India will lead the EV revolution, not only because of the government's push and the size of the automotive market, but because EVs underscore a value consciousness that drives the purchasing decision of the technically-informed Indian consumer.”

Sunil Gupta added that : “We are setting up trials with customers to demonstrate the immediate feasibility of going electric. It is a strategic decision that will reduce carbon footprint, meet our customers’ expectations and create a path to cost reduction in the near future.”

Stefano DM Sommadossi, CEO, quikk Group pointed out the synergies of the two entities : “AVIS is one of the world leaders in mobility and car rentals, with a strong global presence, outstanding service, and advanced technology. So it is a natural fit for us. We are working with fleet managers that have more than 500,000 vehicles to migrate to electric. We provide an AI-based solution to drive the adoption of electric vehicles for professional use by bringing the cost down and increase the value of electric vehicles by optimising the way that they are used. Quikk‘s goal in India is to install 22,000 rapid chargers in our dedicated qWEBs.”