Jio-bp, the operating brand of Reliance BP Mobility Ltd, and electric vehicle leasing platform DRIVN have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore charging solutions for commercial electric vehicle fleets, including buses and trucks, across India.
The companies said on Tuesday that the partnership will examine ways to strengthen charging infrastructure for fleet operators and support the expansion of commercial electric mobility. The agreement brings together DRIVN’s commercial EV leasing capabilities and Jio-bp’s charging network.
Under the proposed collaboration, the companies will explore integrating Jio-bp’s charging network with DRIVN’s leasing platform. This may include improving the ability of fleet drivers to find charging locations, as well as examining preferential tariffs and turnkey charging projects in selected cities and along highways.
The companies did not announce a specific investment amount, the number of chargers planned, or a schedule for deploying new facilities. The memorandum is intended to explore potential opportunities rather than confirm a completed charging rollout.
Alpna Jain, co-founder and chief business officer at DRIVN, said commercial EV charging infrastructure would need to keep pace with the routes and operating patterns of fleet vehicles. She said the location of a charger and the route it serves can directly affect the operations of electric buses and trucks.
“Our MoU with Jio-bp gives us an opportunity to address these requirements as we expand our commercial EV business and make charging infrastructure easier for fleet operators to find and use,” Jain said.
Sarthak Behuria, chairman of Jio-bp, said commercial fleets were central to the expansion of electric mobility because buses and trucks cover long distances and operate on demanding routes. He described EV charging infrastructure as a critical part of national infrastructure and said the partnership would support the development of a charging backbone for commercial vehicles.
Akshay Wadhwa, chief executive officer of Jio-bp, said commercial fleets have distinct charging requirements shaped by their routes, battery capacities and operating patterns. He added that the agreement would allow the companies to explore charging and financing solutions for fleet operators and improve access to charging for electric buses and trucks.
The announcement places route-linked charging access at the centre of the proposed partnership. For commercial operators, charging location discoverability, tariffs and the possible development of turnkey projects will be among the areas examined as the two companies assess opportunities across cities and highways. Further details on locations, implementation and operational timelines were not provided in the announcement.
