‘Slept in my car for a charging spot’: Noida cabbies frustrated with Vietnam venture

On a Monday afternoon, approximately 20 Green SM Limo drivers in Noida faced a frustrating halt at the company's charging facility. Their electric vehicles were parked in a basement parking area of Urbtech Trade Centre in Sector 132 when the power unexpectedly went out. The group grumbled as a supervisor instructed them to remove the chargers once the power returned.

One driver, who had only been with the fleet for two weeks, spoke of the process becoming repetitive and time-consuming. Another, who joined the fleet 15 days ago, shared that he often arrived at the station for his first ride around 1 pm, leaving him with limited hours in the day to meet his weekly targets. The driver, who had to drive from Loni, Ghaziabad, at 8 am, explained that he spent an hour charging and waiting for a ride.

Some drivers resorted to sleeping inside their cars overnight to secure a charging spot. The charging facility at Sector 132 was popular due to its higher number of fast chargers. However, the drivers remain unsatisfied with the company's response and the lengthy charging process, which eats into their available working hours.