Jio-bp, DRIVN sign MoU to expand commercial EV charging infrastructure in India

Jio-bp and commercial electric vehicle leasing platform DRIVN have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore ways to strengthen charging infrastructure for commercial electric vehicles, including buses and trucks, across India.

The collaboration combines DRIVN’s commercial EV leasing capabilities with Jio-bp’s EV charging network. The companies will examine solutions aimed at addressing the operational requirements of commercial fleet operators and supporting the growth of electric mobility.

Charging network to be integrated with EV leasing platform

Under the MoU, Jio-bp and DRIVN will explore integrating Jio-bp’s charging network with DRIVN’s leasing platform.

The proposed integration is intended to improve the discoverability of charging locations for commercial EV drivers, helping fleet operators identify charging facilities along their operating routes.

The companies will also explore preferential charging tariffs and turnkey EV charging projects in selected cities and along identified highways.

Alpna Jain, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, DRIVN, said, “As commercial EVs become a larger part of fleet operations, charging infrastructure has to keep pace with where and how these vehicles are used. For buses and trucks, the location of a charger and the route it serves can directly affect operations. 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. This partnership is the first of many and a decisive step towards building the ecosystem required to make electric mobility more scalable and commercially viable.”

Focus on electric buses and trucks

The partnership will focus on charging solutions tailored to the operational characteristics of commercial EVs.

Unlike passenger vehicles, electric buses and trucks typically have higher utilisation rates and operate according to defined routes and schedules. Their charging requirements can vary depending on battery capacity, distance travelled, vehicle type and fleet operating patterns.

Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, Jio-bp, said, “India’s transition to electric mobility is no longer a question, it is happening quickly. At the heart of this transformation are commercial fleets — buses and trucks that keep our people, cargo, and economy moving every day, often covering the longest distances and the toughest routes. At Jio-bp, we believe EV charging infrastructure is a critical part of national infrastructure and our partnership with DRIVN marks an important step towards building the charging backbone needed to cater to the demands of this transition.”

The companies intend to assess charging requirements based on routes, battery capacities and fleet usage patterns, with the aim of developing infrastructure suited to commercial operations.

Jio-bp and DRIVN to explore charging and financing solutions

The MoU also covers the exploration of practical charging and financing solutions for commercial fleet operators.

Akshay Wadhwa, CEO, Jio-bp, said, “Jio-bp pulse has been built on a simple promise — accessible, reliable, high-uptime EV charging wherever needed. With DRIVN, we are further strengthening our focus on commercial fleets, which have distinct needs shaped by routes, battery capacities and operating patterns. This MoU lets us address those needs directly, while exploring practical charging and financing solutions for fleet operators. Together, we aim to make reliable charging more accessible for electric buses and trucks.”

The companies will consider turnkey charging projects as well as preferential tariffs in selected locations. The initiatives are expected to focus on cities and highways where commercial EV operations can create demand for dedicated charging infrastructure.

Commercial EV charging infrastructure remains key to fleet electrification

The expansion of commercial electric mobility requires charging infrastructure that can accommodate the operational requirements of high-utilisation fleets.

For electric buses and trucks, factors such as charger location, route coverage, charging speed, battery size and vehicle schedules can directly influence fleet operations. Integrating charging information with vehicle leasing services could help operators plan vehicle deployment and charging more effectively.

Through the collaboration, Jio-bp and DRIVN aim to develop the foundations for a charging ecosystem supporting India’s expanding electric bus and truck market.