Electric bus market, growth & progression 

Electric bus market is growing worldwide due to the growing automotive industry. It has gained momentum owing to government push through FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India) scheme. There are 6 big manufacturers at current Indian electric bus market such as Tata Motors, Olectra-BYD, Foton PMI, JBM Solaris and VECV. Let us now look in detail about Electric bus market, growth and progression. 

It has attracted global investors as well. According to JMK Research, the Electric bus market growth is fuelled by more than US$1 billion worth of investment deals forged in the past few years.

India could add 6,490 Electric buses in the next two years around 1850 units in FY2020-21 and 4640 in FY2021-22. It has added 1,031 Electric buses in March 2020 and 600 in FY2019-20, 400 in FY2018-19, and 31 in FY2017-18.

The benefits of Electric buses 

• The non-AC buses are Rs 35 per kilometre, for AC buses it is Rs 50.
• The Electric buses expenditure is as low as Rs 12/km.

Electric bus for a cancer hospital in West Bengal

In an eco-friendly initiative, an electric bus service has been started to connect the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) to Biswa Bangla Gate crossing. Debashis Sen, chairman cum managing director of Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco).

Hidco has plans of increasing its electric bus fleet. In that regard, the tender has been floated seeking bids for buses on lease. “This time we plan to lease buses and pay as per the kilometres run. The existing Electric buses were bought by us from KPIT Technologies, with a three-year maintenance contract. But it is turning out to be an expensive arrangement,” said Sen.

Brampton launched first of eight Nova electric buses

The Canadian city Brampton launched the first of eight Nova electric buses which will be on the road in this spring. It will be launched on routes 23 Sandalwood and 26 Mount Pleasant.

These electric buses have 4 high-powered (450 kWh) overhead pantograph on-route charging stations will be installed.

Panasonic EV charging infrastructure to 1000 electric buses 

Panasonic Life Solutions India will provide high-tech EV charging infrastructure for more than 1000 electric buses to PMI Electro Mobility Solution Private Limited.

Satish Jain, PMI Electro Mobility Solution Private Limited, said “PMI has to supply 1000 electric buses to across 18 cities in India, on Gross Cost Contract Basis. The buses shall operate 200-220 km on a daily basis. For which, a reliable charging infra partner is needed,”

“Panasonic being one of the most reputable brands provides additional comfort. The chargers provided by Panasonic are one of the most advanced, and fast chargers by which we will be able to charge our buses within 40 mins. PMI is proud to be a strong partner in the current e-mobility movement in India and takes pride in being a major stakeholder in the public transportation sector.”

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Governor flagged-off fleet of electric buses

Admiral D K Joshi, the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands flagged-off fleet of electric buses. 40 electric buses project is being executed by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN Limited).

The NVVN is also the successful bidder for providing 90 electric buses in Bengaluru under the Smart City project.

1,100 electric buses in Ahmedabad 

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had announced to buy 1,100 electric buses the city has received only 50 electric buses till now.

350 electric buses

Electric bus manufacturer Olectra Greentech (OGL) and its sister concern Evey Trans Private Limited (EVEY) has received an order from Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd for 350 electric buses.

The order comes under FAME-II scheme (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) for the supply of 350 electric buses on Gross Cost Contract (GCC) OPEX model basis for 12 years.

Jakarta, Indonesia to procure 10,000 electric buses

Transjakarta, the Jakarta Indonesian bus operator plans to procure 10,000 electric buses by 2030. Its government’s goal is for at least 50 per cent of Transjakarta buses to be electric by 2025 and all by 2030. The Transjakarta does aim to reach the 10,000 electric bus.

Hydrogen double-decker buses launch in Scotland

Fifteen 60-seat hydrogen double-decker buses have officially launched in Aberdeen, Scotland. The vehicles will be operated mainly on the Service 19 (Peterculter to Tillydrone) by First Bus in a project led by Aberdeen City Council.

The £8.3 million ($11.37 million) project has been funded by Aberdeen City Council, European Union Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, and the Scottish Government with an investment of about £500,000 ($684.4K) per vehicle.

The city already owns hydrogen and electric vans, road sweepers, and cars through a car share scheme.

Enel X providing 401 electric buses to Colombia’s capital Bogota

Enel X will provide 401 electric buses and two charging terminals to Colombia’s capital Bogota. The electric buses will be built by Chinese automaker BYD and are expected to be delivered between the end of 2021 and early 2022.

BEST to become 30% electric buses 

The Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray plans to bring 30 per cent electric buses to BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) in Mumbai in the next 5 years. This is the first phase of its plan to ply 340 electric buses in Mumbai by 2022.

Tender for 575 electric buses in Delhi

Transport Department of Delhi has issued three requests for qualification and proposals (RFQP) for the operation of 575 electric buses (E-buses) in the capital. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) issued 3 tenders for RFQP of 275, 110, and 190 E-buses under the E1, E2, and E3 clusters respectively under the cluster scheme of GNCTD.

The GNCTD has inducted 2,897 buses under the Cluster Program for the Operation of Private Stage Carriages services in Delhi.

Interested bidders can submit their bids by March 16, 2021. A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for February 5, 2021. Bidders are expected to submit an earnest money deposit of Rs. 17.25 crore as a Bid Security.

Also Read: Mercedes Benz Citaro hybrid electric bus

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