Frustrated with ride cancellations, Bengaluru commuters slowly shift to electric cabs

Why Bengaluru commuters are shifting to electric cab services

“I was fed up with last-minute cancellations every time I booked a cab after work around 6 p.m. It became almost impossible to rely on Ola or Uber,” says Shruthi P. Kumar, a tech professional in Bellandur, Bengaluru. “Ever since I switched to an EV cab service, the difference has been like night and day — no more cancellations, though it costs a bit higher than regular fuel cab, and I get peace of mind knowing my ride will show up at least,” she added.

This sentiment is becoming increasingly common among Bengaluru’s cab commuters. Frustrated by frequent cancellations from traditional cab services, many in the city are now turning to electric vehicle (EV) cab companies like BluSmart, Quick Ride, Envi, and Shoffr. These electric cab services, though slightly more expensive and often requiring pre-booking, offer what has become a key selling point: reliability, as cab users and drivers told The Hindu.

For many, the convenience of booking a ride and not worrying about last-minute cancellations far outweighs the marginally higher cost of electric cabs.

“I had five traditional ride-hailing app-based cab drivers cancel on me back-to-back when I needed to catch a flight,” recounts Mohammed Ashfaq, a frequent flyer, from Jayanagar. “Now I only book Blusmart for airport trips. It’s slightly more expensive, but I know they won’t cancel.”

According to EV cab drivers, the primary reason electric cab services have a lower cancellation rate lies in their operational model. “Unlike Ola and Uber, where drivers typically own the cars and must deal with high maintenance costs and loan repayments, electric cab companies often own their fleet. This removes the financial burden from the drivers, allowing them to focus solely on driving without worrying about vehicle ownership expenses,” said Pream Sai, an EV cab driver from JP Nagar.

Anil Kumar, a driver with BluSmart, explains: “We don’t own the cars, so there’s no financial burden on us. I no longer have to worry about loan payments or maintenance. I just focus on driving and get paid for every ride, plus tips from passengers. It’s a much better setup than when I used to lease a car and had to deal with constant hassles. Now, those problems are gone, and it’s a smoother experience.”

Electric cab services have gained particular traction among Bengaluru’s tech workforce, airport travellers and families who are going for an event.