Building smart EV infrastructure through strategic partnerships
Bounce, a Bengaluru-based startup has emerged as a trailblazer in the e-mobility space with its latest launch the Bounce Infinity E1. E1 is a first-of-its-kind e-scooter that offers riders a unique ‘battery as a service’ option. This essentially means that when consumers buy the E1, they have the option to purchase the scooter without the battery. This eliminates all hassles that consumers typically face while charging, maintaining, and replacing batteries. This revolutionary solution will make the switch to electric vehicles stress-free and convenient for customers. The Infinity E1 is available to customers at an economical price tag of INR 45,099. Also, customers can pre-book Bounce Infinity with their brand new e-scooter by making a refundable payment of INR 499. Beginning March 2022, Bounce is ready to start delivering the Infinity E1 to customers through both its online platform and its dealership network.
With the new ‘battery as a service’ option, Infinity E1 riders can simply swap the empty batteries for a fully-charged one at their nearest bounce infinity swap station. Bounce swapping stations work like any other conventional fuel station where customers can pull up 24x7 and pick up fully-charged ready-to-go batteries. The company already has a live network of 150 swapping stations across Bengaluru and is set to invest over USD 100 million to expand its current swapping infrastructure in the next 12 months. Bounce has announced the launch of 3,500+ battery swapping stations covering 10 major Indian cities including Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. The new battery swapping network will support both Bounce’s retail customers and its ride-sharing business. To make this vision a reality, Bounce has forged strategic partnerships with leading brands like Park+, NoBroker, Helloworld, Readyassist, Goodbox, Kitchens@, etc. Let us look at some of these partnerships closely to understand how Bounce is accelerating its network of swapping stations by building prominent partnerships to offer swapping facilities within 1km of all potential customers.
Smart charging parking network with Park+
Park+ is revolutionizing the parking ecosystem for automotive users through tech-enabled solutions. With widespread EV proliferation just around the corner, Park+ has realized a big challenge in the absence of charging infrastructure at parking places. As EVs become more mainstream, they are committed to rapidly scale-up charging infrastructure across their parking network in residential societies, malls, corporate offices, and other key parking spaces. By joining hands with Bounce, the two companies are taking a crucial step towards empowering the common man to be an integral part of India’s transition to EVs. Charged with ‘Bounce Power’, the smart charging parking network will be available at key locations so that customers can find the nearest station for charging/swapping batteries on the Bounce app and the Park+ app.
Bringing swapping infra closer to home with NoBroker
Similarly, Bounce’s partnership with NoBroker, India’s first realty start-up unicorn is set to make the EV transition convenient for customers by bringing swapping solutions closer to their homes. NoBroker currently holds one of the world’s largest Visitor Management Systems (VMS) for residential societies across all tier 1 cities in India. The VMS is managed through their NoBrokerHood app and with this new partnership Bounce now gets access to over 1 lakh locations across the country. These new locations cover standalone buildings, apartments, gated societies, etc, and will help Bounce to grow its current swapping station network. This also makes finding the nearest swapping station more convenient for customers through the Bounce app.
These collaborations will help Bounce build the world’s largest and densest battery-swapping network by expanding its swapping stations to 900 new locations covering multiple spaces and serving a diverse group of customers, thereby ushering the next phase of India’s e-mobility journey.
