We’re building an inclusive EV ecosystem to make transportation more climate-friendly

Today, GrabElectric is the largest EV fleet operator in Indonesia with more than 10,000 two-wheel EVs.

We’ve also launched a ‘Drive to Own’ model in Thailand to lower the financing barrier of EVs with zero down payment required, and daily instalments and loan approval based on our records of the driver-partner.

Thanks to our network of driver-partners, we’re able to work closely with industry players and serve as a test-bed for EV solution providers to conduct end-to-end trials and find product-market fit.

Over in Vietnam, for instance, we partnered with EV startup Selex Motors to pilot their EV bikes for our GrabExpress service. It was first rolled out in Hanoi at the end of 2022. Within a month since it was rolled out in Hanoi at the end of 2022, our delivery-partners travelled more than 30,000km on these EV bikes.The pilot was subsequently extended to Ho Chi Minh City in 2023. 

To drum up demand among passengers, we’ve made it simpler for passengers to opt for environmentally-friendly transportation options in-app in Singapore and Thailand. Users can toggle on the option for our allocation system to prioritise EVs and hybrid vehicles at no additional charge. 

The challenges 

But there’s more to be done. 

In the two-wheel segment, for instance, there are limitations when it comes to setting up more battery swapping stations that are vital for the effective use of EVs. But it’s hard to scale given that each electric motorcycle brand comes with its own set of battery standards that can’t necessarily be used across other brands. 

On the four-wheel front, driver-partners often worry about not having enough charge to complete their deliveries and rides, especially those who tend to work longer hours. Meanwhile, having to set aside time for charging may also eat into the time that could be spent earning. The accumulated cost—including time, effort, and maintenance—may eclipse the savings made by not using petrol.

Many of these issues can’t be fixed overnight but we’re already taking the first steps towards the shift to more sustainable transport options across Southeast Asia. 

Our emission density per kilometre travelled has dropped 2 per cent year-on-year for our mobility segment, and 8.2 per cent year-on-year for the deliveries in 2023. 

(Read more: Grab’s 2023 ESG report)

Meanwhile, some 6.3 per cent of all distance travelled in 2023 was on low or zero emission modes of transport (EV, hybrid vehicles, cyclists and walkers).

We will continue to look for opportunities where we can come in to support more driver-partners in their EV journeys and to build a more inclusive EV ecosystem.