Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) is increasingly recognized as a transformative procurement model in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, enabling cost reduction, lifecycle optimization, and alignment with circular economy principles. Unlike traditional ownership, BaaS separates the battery from the vehicle, offering it as a service through leasing or swapping. To identify robust procurement strategies for BaaS, this study employed the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), which integrates expert consensus with fuzzy set theory to capture uncertainty in judgments. A panel of domain experts evaluated 27 potential procurement variables, and those with a mean consensus score of ≥0.60 were retained. The process yielded seven validated strategies. The results emphasize the importance of fiscal incentives, interoperability, collaborative governance, and local supply resilience in shaping viable BaaS ecosystems. For India, where EV growth is projected to reach unprecedented levels, these strategies provide actionable pathways for policy alignment and industry adoption. Globally, the findings offer a benchmark for designing procurement frameworks that balance affordability, sustainability, and risk-sharing. This study contributes a methodological advancement by applying FDM to BaaS procurement, producing a consensus-driven foundation for future modelling and empirical validation. For India, where batteries constitute up to 40% of EV cost and national schemes such as FAME-II, the PLI program for advanced cells, and the draft battery swapping policy (2022) are reshaping the sector, these strategies are particularly relevant in reducing cost barriers and ensuring supply resilience. Globally, the findings highlight the value of fiscal incentives, interoperability, and collaborative procurement models for accelerating BaaS ecosystems. The study advances procurement research by validating strategy selection through FDM, offering a consensus-based foundation for both Indian and international contexts.

Keywords: Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS); Electric Vehicles (EV); Procurement Strategy; Fuzzy Delphi Method; Expert Consensus; Circular Economy; India