5,000 Workers Earn More Using Low-Cost Electric Carts

For years, Ram Avtaar pedaled his bicycle through neighborhoods across North India, hauling heavy bags of spices from door to door. The work was exhausting, the loads were brutal, and his earnings barely kept pace with his effort.

Today, Ram Avtaar drives an electric cart from Ebik, a company providing affordable alternatives to traditional delivery methods. He covers more ground, carries heavier loads, and gets home with energy to spare.

Ram Avtaar is one of 5,000 workers now using these electric bikes and carts to power their small businesses across North India. Vegetable vendors, delivery workers, and mobile sellers have replaced their manual carts and bicycles with electric versions that cost a fraction of traditional vehicles.

The company designed the carts specifically for India's street vendors and gig workers who need reliable transportation but can't afford cars or motorcycles. The electric bikes require minimal charging costs and virtually no maintenance compared to fuel-powered alternatives.

Workers report earning more because they can make additional trips each day without physical exhaustion. Some vendors say they've expanded their territories, reaching neighborhoods that were too far to access by bicycle.

The Ripple Effect

The environmental impact extends far beyond individual livelihoods. These 5,000 electric carts have already eliminated more than 4,400 tonnes of carbon emissions.

That's the equivalent of removing nearly 1,000 cars from the roads or planting 185,000 mature trees. Each vendor who switches to electric power contributes to cleaner air in densely populated urban areas where pollution hits hardest.

The initiative launched through a partnership with NITI Aayog's Frontier Tech Hub, India's government think tank focused on innovative solutions. The collaboration aims to scale the program to tens of thousands more workers across the country.

For Ram Avtaar and thousands like him, the math is simple: lighter work, better income, and a small part in building a cleaner future.