How India is Developing a Strong Electric Bus Ecosystem

Tata Motors was given a contract in August to supply 921 electric buses to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

India's electric vehicle industry is flourishing, so we'll have a look at the electrical bus ecosystem, how India is preparing for the adoption of new technology, and what initiatives the Indian government is taking to hasten the switch to EVs.It would be fascinating to observe how one of the most popular modes of public transportation will be changed to totally electric, as India's current Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, is equally positive and enthusiastic about the future of Electric Vehicles in India.

Initiatives of the Government of India

Convergence Energy Services Ltd. (a subsidiary of EESL- Energy Efficiency Services Ltd.) received a contract from five state governments for 5,450 electric buses in 2022. CESL plans to conduct a $10 billion (Rs.80,000 crore) tender for 50,000 electric buses, which has been approved by NITI Ayog to reduce pollution in India and boost E-Bus manufacturers.

The Delhi Government intends to deploy 8,000 electrical buses to public transportation via DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation). TATA Motors recently delivered 97 electric buses to Delhi. The Delhi government intends to electrify 80% of the DTC fleet by 2025.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) program in Mumbai will add two new electric buses to its fleet, including the country's first air-conditioned double-decker bus.

Top Electric Bus Manufacturers

Ashok Leyland Ltd.

Ashok Leyland's Switch Mobility introduced India's first electric double-decker air-conditioned bus in August 2022. Presently it operates twin-floor electric AC buses in the United Kingdom. The BEST (Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport) undertaking's current fleet of double-deckers will be replaced by these buses.

According to the company, the electric double-decker AC bus EiV22 is powered by a 231-kWh battery pack with a twin-gun charging system, providing it with an intra-city range of up to 250 km.

Tata Motors Ltd.

Tata Motors was given a contract in August to supply 921 electric buses to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

Tata Motors will provide, operate, and repair the 12-meter Tata Starbus for 12 years, according to the contract. This is the third-largest order placed by a state government with Tata Motors in the last month. Previously, DTC and WBTC made orders with Tata Motors for 1,500 and 1,180 electric buses, respectively (WBTC).

Olectra Greentech Limited

The company was created in 2000 and is a subsidiary of Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited. BYD's electric bus division, Olectra Greentech, is a joint venture between BYD and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd in India.

Assam will receive 100 electric buses from Olectra Greentech for Rs. 151 crores. The Indian government has placed an order for 300 electric buses under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme. Telangana State Road Transport Corporation has awarded Olectra a Rs 500 crore contract for 300 electric buses (TSRTC).

State transport undertakings (STUs) throughout the country, including those in Pune (PMPML), Mumbai (BEST), Goa, Deharadun, Surat, Ahmedabad, Silvasa, and Nagpur, are currently using electric buses run by Olectra Greentech.

Deccan Automobile Limited

This company has a technical link with Zhongtong of China, a Chinese government-owned exporter to more than 30 countries. Deccan Auto Limited was the first automaker in India to have its headquarters in Telangana and develop buses, lorries, and other electric commercial vehicles. It is established on 20 acres and has an annual manufacturing capacity of up to 2998 units.

JBM Motors Ltd.

JBM Motors is also one of the main firms in India that manufacture electric buses. JBM buses are built with cutting-edge technology that provides convenient, high-quality, and first-rate safety features.They also blend fuel technology with utility and performance to cut emissions and introduce greener, more efficient technology.

EKA E9

EKA, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries Ltd. and an electric vehicle manufacturer, announced that the Automotive Research Association of India had approved its "9m pure electric, zero-emission bus, EKA E9" under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) (ARAI). The company claimed that customer trials and EKA E9 sales would begin in the following months.

The company is developing a new plant in Madhya Pradesh's Pitampura for the production of these buses, which will be operational in about nine months and have a monthly production capacity of 300 buses. The Center for the Auto Industry Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme has chosen the organization, which is scheduled to invest close to Rs 2,000 crore over five years.As EKA E9 is now qualified to participate in tenders, the company is aiming for the CESL tender for 50,000 buses that are presently being floated.

Eicher Motors Ltd.

Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, a joint venture between Eicher Motors and Volvo, has launched a distinct business to build, market, and operate electric buses in line with the expanding trend.

According to a senior official, the subsidiary's name is VE Electric Mobility. Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) has won a contract to supply 150 e-buses to Surat after participating in a tender held by Convergence Energy Services, a unit of the government-owned Energy Efficiency Services.

It's important to recall that in February 2018, VECV was one of the first companies in India to introduce and test a zero-emission electric bus. VE Commercial Vehicles had placed the locally developed electric technology known as "Revolo" on its bus platform known as "Skyline Pro" at the time.

Three Eicher Skyline Pro E buses ran in a pilot with West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO), achieving 140 km per day, operating seven days a week, and maintaining a 98% uptime for almost a year.

Conclusion

Buses are an important aspect of the Indian transportation sector because they constitute the primary mode of transportation for a huge number of people in India. Electric buses are largely utilized for long-distance travel, and switching ICE buses to electric can be a significant step forward for the Indian government in moving toward a more sustainable and green future. The ongoing efforts of the state and central governments to electrify public transportation will lead the Indian electric bus market to have its fastest growth peak.