India’s first AC double-decker electric buses have joined Best (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport) fleet. The contractor, Switch Mobility, hopes to get the necessary certification soon.
Switch Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, is to deliver 50 buses in the first phase, and 10 of them are expected to arrive soon. Each vehicle costs INR 2 crore, and it can carry around 90 passengers. Best plans to introduce a total of 200 such buses, named EiV22.
The induction of 200 such buses will reduce the undertaking’s carbon footprint by 41 per cent and save 26 million litres of diesel per year. Each vehicle has a 231 kwh battery with a claimed range of up to 250 km. However, an operational run of 160-180 km can only be expected due to traffic, weather conditions, etc. The bus can cover 100 km with just a 45 minute charge, while a full charge takes 80 minutes.
