Jio-bp, the operational brand of Reliance BP Mobility Ltd—a joint venture between Reliance Industries and bp—announced on Tuesday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the electric vehicle (EV) rental platform DRIVN. The goal of the collaboration is to explore opportunities to strengthen the charging infrastructure for commercial electric vehicles in India, including trucks and buses.
This partnership combines DRIVN's capabilities in commercial EV rentals with Jio-bp's network of charging stations to meet the evolving needs of fleet operators and support the growth of commercial electric mobility.
As part of the joint work, the companies plan to study the integration of the Jio-bp charging station network with the DRIVN rental platform, which will include improved functionality for fleet drivers to locate charging spots. Furthermore, the partnership will examine special tariffs and comprehensive charging infrastructure projects in specific cities and on highways.
Leadership Comments
Alpana Jain, Co-founder and Director of Business Development at DRIVN, noted that as commercial EVs become an increasingly significant part of fleet operations, the charging infrastructure must align with where and how these vehicles are used. She emphasized that for buses and trucks, the location of the charger and the route it serves directly impacts operations. The MoU with Jio-bp provides an opportunity to address these requirements while expanding DRIVN's business and simplifying the search and use of charging infrastructure for fleet operators.
Sartak Behuria, Chairman of Jio-bp, stated that India's transition to electric mobility is happening rapidly. He highlighted that commercial fleets—buses and trucks—are at the core of this transformation, daily facilitating the movement of people, goods, and the economy, often covering long distances and traversing the most challenging routes. In Jio-bp's view, EV charging infrastructure is a critical component of national infrastructure, and the partnership with DRIVN marks an important step toward creating the necessary charging framework to meet the demands of this transition.
Akshay Wadhwa, CEO of Jio-bp, added that through DRIVN, the company is strengthening its focus on commercial fleets, which have specific needs dictated by routes, battery capacities, and operating modes. This MoU allows them to directly address these needs while exploring practical solutions for charging and financing for fleet operators. Together, they aim to make reliable charging more accessible for electric buses and trucks.