Posted by Life of Canadian Delivery boys
I’ve lived in New York, London, and spent time in Germany — so I’ve seen what life abroad really looks like very closely. One thing that captures difference is “Respect”. EV Rental, Quick Commerce in India is bringing silent but huge revolution.
Delivery boys, EV Rental: West vs India
And every time I go back home to Punjab, Canada is still the dream. Families talk about PR, good salaries, and a “better life.”
But last week, during dinner, a viral photo of a Canadian delivery boy popped up on my feed — layers of jackets, biking through snow, looking exhausted. My in-laws were visiting me. They said, “Wahan paisa zyada hai.” True — Canada still offers $50k+ salaries and a path to PR.
But here’s what I’ve seen: visa queues now take months, tuition costs are up, and many students end up delivering food or driving cabs just to pay bills. I’ve spoken to friends abroad — it’s a grind: debt, double shifts, no family nearby, and long winters that make you question the trade-off.
The Quiet Revolution in India’s Gig Economy & EV Rental
Back home, I’m watching something very different unfold.
There will be 24M to 30M gig work jobs in India by 2030. 7.5m to 10m will be just around quick commerce.
Why OEM & fleet management companies loving EV Rental
This is catalyzing new business of EV rental. For mid to small size OEMs & firms – EV rental is coming as lucrative option.
As the Consumer & Retail market has cut throat competition – they switch to B2B & Rental.
Quick commerce is booming — $5.5B market by 2025 — and EV rentals are scaling at 40% CAGR, with 100,000+ vehicles expected on the road next year. This isn’t just about faster delivery — it’s quietly reshaping how we view work, mobility, and dignity.
My father-in-law put it best:
“Nayi generation inko izzat deti hai. (He meant Riders)”
So basically – trend from going outside is getting reverse
Swiggy/Zomato drivers helping people in water logged roads
Delivery boys have earned respect.
Challenges of EV Rental
Where there’s an opportunity. There’s challenge. Operational costs start shooting & scale is tough in EV rental.
- Onboarding Rider is difficult
- Payment collection is super tough – Some of my clients were going crazy with excels, maintaining payment schedules. Then their account teams sat tallying which payments were received via UPI apps, which via bank
- Servicing – EV rental was getting eaten by help needed by rider. Sometimes, basic queries.
- Investor Onboarding – Capital requirement is huge. As business scale, it needs capital. Companies are getting investors to sponsor 1-2-10 vehicles.
Threat from bigger players
Business is so lucrative that bigger players are also entering.
But they can’t do it seamlessly at least for now.
Mind you, EV Rental business flourishes for mid-small OEMs & firms only because they are able to provide the personalized service.
But unless they up the game to scale or compete – many players my just remain small
The Tech Layer Nobody Sees
Behind all this is something I’ve been close to through my own work with fleets.
Most operators struggle with three things: onboarding riders, collecting payments, and coordinating dispatch. Left unchecked, it’s chaos.
That’s where I’ve seen Vaayu’s AI platform — and Kavya, our AI assistant — make a difference:
- Faster onboarding via WhatsApp KYC – riders are on the road in hours, not days.
- Automated payments – no more manual chasing, fewer disputes.
- Smart dashboards – show which routes, riders, and shifts are making money (or losing it).
It’s not a headline feature, but when I see a fleet cut downtime and riders get paid on time, it feels like progress — real, tangible progress.
Read more about AI Powered Fleet Management
Why This Matters Now
Because this isn’t just about technology or EVs — it’s about a shift in how we see work.
For years, the narrative was: go abroad, work hard, send money home. But here’s a growing class of workers building lives locally — with dignity, family around, and technology backing them up.
The next time a delivery rider zips past you on an EV, remember: there’s an entire invisible system behind that ride, built with AI, data, and quiet efficiency — right here in India.
EV Rental & Rider – a generational change – Respect
We accept it or not – In our previous gen – Work one does & money one earned defined the “Respect” one gets. It’s true even today, especially for men. But at least life is less brutal. All jobs are being treatd better…If not well or equally.
👇 Your Take?
Would you choose to build here or chase the Canadian or US dream?
What changes are you seeing in your own city’s gig economy?