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The new facility enables battery replacement in under five minutes, extends the Mumbai–Pune Electric Freight Corridor and combines heavy-duty truck swapping with public EV charging. Blue Energy Motors (BEM), in partnership with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), has operationalised Bhiwandi's first battery-swapping station for electric heavy-duty trucks, strengthening energy infrastructure for electric freight movement across the Mumbai–Pune corridor.
Announced on 26 October, the facility marks a milestone in the strategic partnership between the two companies, established in January 2026. Located in Bhiwandi, a major logistics and warehousing hub in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the station extends the Mumbai–Pune Electric Freight Corridor launched by Blue Energy Motors in October 2025.
The facility enables battery swapping for BEM's electric heavy-duty trucks in less than five minutes, helping reduce vehicle downtime and improve fleet utilisation. Rather than waiting for a depleted battery to recharge, operators can replace it with a charged battery and return the vehicle to service.
Battery swapping targets freight downtime
Battery-swapping infrastructure addresses a key operational requirement for electric heavy-duty trucks, where vehicle utilisation and delivery schedules are closely linked to the time needed for energy replenishment. For fleet operators, faster battery replacement can reduce interruptions during freight operations and help vehicles spend more time on the road. The commercial impact will depend on factors such as station availability, fleet volumes, operating schedules and the cost of using the service. By adding Bhiwandi to the corridor's energy infrastructure, BEM and HPCL aim to strengthen the operational case for electric trucks on a major freight route connecting Mumbai and Pune.
Public EV charging adds to the facility
Beyond battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks, the facility includes a public electric vehicle charging station serving two-wheelers, four-wheelers and commercial vehicles. The combination creates a multi-segment EV energy hub within HPCL's existing retail network, extending the facility's role beyond commercial freight. It also illustrates how established fuel retail infrastructure can support the transition towards electric mobility by accommodating different vehicle categories. For Bhiwandi, where extensive warehousing and distribution activity generates substantial freight movement, additional EV energy infrastructure could support wider adoption of lower-emission transport options.
Mumbai–Pune corridor gets additional infrastructure
Blue Energy Motors launched its Mumbai–Pune Electric Freight Corridor in October 2025 as part of its efforts to promote electric heavy-duty trucking. The new Bhiwandi station adds to the infrastructure needed to support reliable vehicle operations along the route. The development follows the January 2026 strategic partnership between BEM and HPCL, bringing together the truck manufacturer's electric freight operations and the oil marketing company's established retail network.
Anand Mimani, CEO – EV and New Energy Business at Blue Energy Motors, said the partnership would help build the energy infrastructure required to make electric freight practical and scalable in India. He identified Bhiwandi's freight and logistics activity as an important market for the company and said it plans to expand its network of battery-swapping and charging facilities across key markets.
BEM expands its green trucking operations
Blue Energy Motors manufactures electric and liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered heavy-duty trucks. According to the company, more than 1,400 of its green heavy-duty trucks are operating across key freight routes in India. The company also reports that its trucks have collectively covered more than 150 million green kilometres, helping avoid over 44,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
HPCL, a Maharatna central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is expanding its alternative-energy infrastructure alongside its conventional fuel retail operations. Under its HP e-Charge brand, HPCL reports operating more than 5,800 EV charging stations and over 150 battery-swapping stations across India. The Bhiwandi facility adds heavy-duty electric freight support to this wider network by combining rapid battery replacement with public charging access.
Scaling infrastructure will be key to electric freight adoption
The launch highlights the importance of energy infrastructure in supporting the electrification of India's road freight sector. While electric heavy-duty trucks offer an alternative to conventional diesel-powered transport, commercial adoption also depends on reliable energy access, operational uptime and competitive overall costs.
For BEM and HPCL, the next challenge will be to expand the network across important freight markets and establish services that meet fleet operators' operational requirements. The Bhiwandi station is an additional step towards strengthening the Mumbai–Pune Electric Freight Corridor. Its wider significance will depend on how effectively battery swapping and charging infrastructure can support regular commercial operations and wider adoption of electric freight vehicles.
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Achilles, a global provider of supply chain risk and performance management solutions, has announced the findings of an independent return-on-investment (ROI) analysis conducted in collaboration with research and advisory firm Verdantix. The study examines the financial and operational benefits energy and natural resources companies could achieve by modernising supplier risk and sustainability management. As global supply chains grow more complex and environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements evolve, supplier management is becoming increasingly important for operational resilience, regulatory compliance and corporate reputation. However, many organisations continue to depend on spreadsheets and disconnected internal systems, limiting supplier visibility and creating administrative inefficiencies. Modelling the Financial Value of Supplier Management Drawing on data collected from 15 companies, Verdantix modelled a representative energy and natural resources business employing 9,000 people, generating £100 million in annual revenue and managing approximately 2,000 suppliers through the Achilles platform. The analysis projects a 286% return on investment over three years, with breakeven within six months and approximately £325,000 in total financial benefits. These modelled gains are attributed to improved operational efficiency, greater supplier transparency and more proactive risk management. By consolidating supplier information, automating due diligence and enabling continuous risk monitoring, the platform aims to reduce manual workloads while helping organisations make faster, better-informed supplier decisions. The study found that organisations implementing Achilles could achieve time savings of between 10% and 50% across supplier management processes. These efficiencies were associated with labour savings exceeding £340,000 over three years, allowing teams to redirect resources towards higher-value activities. Improving Risk Visibility across Energy Supply Chains Across oil and gas, renewable energy and wider energy infrastructure, supplier performance can affect operational safety, compliance and business continuity. Managing increasingly extensive contractor and supplier networks therefore requires reliable information and the ability to identify emerging risks. Customer interviews conducted for the study highlighted the potential reputational and financial consequences of poor supplier performance. One organisation described supplier management as a key operational risk and pointed to the role of Achilles in benchmarking suppliers and identifying potential issues across its supply chain. Sustainability performance is another consideration. As ESG reporting and disclosure requirements evolve, companies need accurate, verified supplier information to support reporting obligations and inform procurement decisions. According to the study, Achilles enables organisations to assess and benchmark suppliers’ sustainability performance, supporting more informed selection and oversight. Reducing Disruption and Compliance Costs Supplier failures and compliance breaches can trigger productivity losses and wider disruption across critical energy infrastructure. The Verdantix analysis assessed these costs and found that improved supplier visibility, ongoing monitoring and earlier identification of potential issues could reduce operational disruption costs by more than £72,000 over three years. The study also modelled compliance-related cost reductions of approximately £19,000 over the same period, alongside stronger governance across complex supplier networks. Together, the findings point to the potential value of moving from fragmented, manual processes towards integrated supplier management systems combining verified data, automated due diligence and continuous risk monitoring. For energy and natural resources companies, the business case extends beyond administrative efficiency. Better supplier oversight can support compliance, reduce operational uncertainty and strengthen supply chain resilience. While the ROI and savings figures are modelled estimates rather than guaranteed outcomes for individual organisations, the analysis highlights the potential financial value of modernising supplier risk and sustainability management.
Logistics and supply chain resilience have emerged as key economic themes at the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi, with India using its chairship to push discussions around more resilient and predictable trade infrastructure among member countries. The two-day summit opened in New Delhi this weekend, bringing supply chains and trade logistics into sharper focus as part of the broader economic discussions among BRICS members. The emphasis reflects the growing importance of logistics infrastructure in supporting trade and maintaining the reliability of cross-border supply networks. The issue was already highlighted a day before the formal summit sessions began, at the BRICS Business Forum on Friday, where the push for stronger trade and logistics systems was laid out. Logistics gains strategic importance For BRICS economies, the ability to move goods efficiently across borders is closely linked to the expansion and reliability of trade. Supply chain disruptions can affect the movement of goods, increase uncertainty for businesses and make trade flows less predictable. Against this backdrop, the focus in New Delhi has been on creating conditions that can make trade infrastructure more resilient. India's approach under its BRICS chairship has placed predictability alongside resilience, signalling the importance of infrastructure and logistics networks that can support sustained trade between member economies. The emphasis also reflects the changing role of logistics in the global economy. Once viewed primarily as an operational component of trade, logistics infrastructure is increasingly becoming part of wider economic and strategic discussions, particularly as businesses and governments seek greater resilience in international supply chains. Trade infrastructure in focus The focus on trade logistics at the summit comes as BRICS economies continue to look at ways of strengthening economic cooperation. Efficient infrastructure, dependable trade corridors and predictable movement of goods are fundamental to making greater intra-BRICS trade possible. For India, the discussion is particularly relevant as it continues to position logistics infrastructure as an important element of its wider trade and economic agenda. The BRICS chairship provides a platform to bring these issues into discussions involving major emerging economies. The discussions in New Delhi therefore put logistics closer to the centre of the BRICS economic conversation. Rather than being treated simply as a supporting function for trade, supply chains are increasingly being considered an important part of economic resilience and international cooperation. As the summit proceedings continue, the focus on resilient and predictable trade infrastructure highlights the role that logistics can play in shaping the future of economic engagement among BRICS countries. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such news
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0. The scheme aims to provide credit guarantee coverage of 100% for MSMEs and 90% for non-MSMEs, as well as the airline sector, to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) for the amount in default under the additional credit facility extended to the eligible borrowers to tide over any short-term liquidity mismatches in view of the West Asia Crisis. The total outlay of the scheme is expected to be ₹18,100 crore, and it is expected to generate additional credit flows worth ₹2.25 lakh crore. The scheme is open to MSMEs, non-MSMEs with existing working capital limits, and scheduled passenger airlines that have outstanding credit facilities as of March 31, 2026, as long as their loan accounts are not overdue. Under the scheme, the government will provide 100% coverage to MSMEs and 90% to non-MSMEs and airlines for loans they take for additional credit up to 20% of the peak working capital utilised during the fourth quarter of 2025-26, capped at Rs. 100 crore. For airlines, the loans can be for up to 100% of their peak working capital, but this is capped at ₹1,500 crore per borrower, subject to satisfying certain specific conditions. However, the scheme would apply to all loans sanctioned during the period from the date of issue of these guidelines by NCGTC up to 31 March 2027, and the maximum period of guarantee cover shall be co-terminus with the tenor of the loan. The scheme aims to enable businesses to tide over the challenges arising from the West Asia conflict. Additionally, this is expected to help businesses maintain their operations, protect jobs, and sustain supply chains. Overall, the proposed credit guarantee scheme is a major step to help businesses, particularly MSMEs and the airline sector, to ensure their additional working capital needs are catered to by the banks & financial institutions. By providing timely liquidity, the scheme will sustain the businesses and prevent job losses. It will also promote uninterrupted domestic production and maintain the resilience of the ecosystem. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more news & updates!
