Written by Jess Brownlow and originally published on World Aviation Festival
Yesterday, on World Environment Day, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) announced the introduction of a new fleet of electric vehicle (EV) Airport Taxis.
The 175 EV SUVs are part of BLR’s wider strategy to reduce carbon emissions and have been launched at the airport in collaboration with Refex Group. Refex eVeelz, a new initiative by Refex Green Mobility Limited (RGML), under the Refex Group umbrella, provides 100 per cent EV fleets and is one of India’s all-electric 4-wheeler fleet. With over half of the taxi fleet at BLR now being electric, the airport is delivering on its commitment to consider both its immediate environment and surroundings.
The EV taxis can be secured by travellers either through the BLR Pulse mobile application or at airport taxi stands, and come with an added layer of security for female travellers. Some of the taxis are branded pink which are operated by female drivers and are specifically allocated for female travellers if requested, the rest are teal.
Hari Marar, Managing Director & CEO of Bangalore International Airport Ltd, said,
“At BIAL, our commitment to sustainability drives us to consistently implement initiatives that benefits the environment. The introduction of our EV taxi fleet and the tree planting drive are significant strides towards reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the green spaces within our airport. With a strong focus on providing sustainable ecological solutions, these initiatives positively contribute to the ecosystem and improve the overall experience for our passengers and benefits the local community.”
Anil Jain, Managing Director, Refex Group, said,
“Refex’s Green Mobility vertical is on a mission to provide reliable, safe and cleaner options of commute through Refex eVeelz. Our 100% company owned and leased EV fleet, our driver partners, and our processes provide a safe and ecofriendly commuting experience.”
The EV taxi fleet complements the airport’s wider sustainability accomplishments including becoming Water Positive and achieving 100 per cent renewable energy usage across the campus. Taking to LinkedIn to share his thoughts on World Environment Day, Marar reiterated the airport’s commitment to its six sustainability pillars: Water Stewardship, Net Zero Carbon Emissions, Community-aligned Noise Management, Circular Economy, Sustainable Procurement, and Sustainable Mobility. The airport’s MD & CEO said:
“As we look to the future, our vision is bold, proactively mitigating environmental risks and pioneering innovative solutions. Our mission is to lead the way towards a sustainable tomorrow.”
For more from Hari Marar see:
- Hari Marar, MD & CEO BIAL – Keynote interview, throwing bytes not bricks
- “Terminal in a Garden,” the airport terminal built on the key pillars of Technology and Sustainability. An interview with Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL)
- AFA Keynote airport CEO panel: Entering Asian airports’ post-pandemic era of unprecedented digital transformation, collaboration, innovation, and reimagined business models
