Lithium Urban Tech launches electric cab service in Bangalore

Lithium Urban Technologies, Bangalore, has launched an electric cab service in the city. The service started off with a fleet of 10 cars, but aims to have 100 vehicles in two months.

An investment of about Rs. 30 crore has been made in Lithium Urban Technologies. At present, the company has booked Mahindra Revas and is trying to buy vehicles from Nissan, Renault and a Chinese company called BYD.

Lithium Urban Technologies owns all the vehicles and pays its drivers monthly salaries. The company has recruited 40 drivers and claims that it is conducting background verifications, including visiting their homes and checking their antecedents. Additionally, it is providing them certified self-defence courses.

To ensure safety, the company monitors all the all parameters related to the vehicle, trips and customers on a cloud network. The driver has no connection with the car, its operation, charging, maintenance, rides, booking, etc. The cabs have been fitted with GPS units, undisclosed to the drivers and panic buttons. Other features include internet connection via WiFi, communication with commuters through app only (without sharing mobile number) and alerts when the cab goes off-course.

At present, the service is limited to corporates due to the lack of infrastructure to charge the vehicles. Lithium is depending on companies to help it with charging points for its vehicles. The company is worried about the lack of charging points across the city. It claims that even if sets up points at various locations, it is not sure if BESCOM would provide power.

Lithium had originally intended to have operations in Bangalore only. Now, it is planning to have a fleet of 2,000 cabs plying across India.

Source: Times of India