Bengaluru to get fleet of 300 electric buses by November

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)– Bengaluru’s intra-city bus service will have a phased rollout of 300 electric buses manufactured by Chennai-based multinational automotive manufacturer Ashok Leyland in the next six months as per sources from the department. The induction is expected to start by June.
The zero tailpipe emission, low-noise electric buses have the feel of the premier Volvo that have been plying in the city, said a top source. “The prototype of the 12-metre buses arrived at BMTC on Friday. As many as 50 buses will hit the roads by July, following which, 50 more will be added in the subsequent months,” the source added.
BMTC bus drivers are said to be excited about the induction of these buses into the fleet. However, they may not be allowed to drive them.
Switch Mobility on Nov 16, 2021 announced that the fleet and charging infrastructure will be supplied, operated and maintained by them. This will be for a period of 12 years on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) Model under the FAME II Scheme.
The buses are expected to reduce fuel consumption by around 5.5 million litres annually, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions by more than 14,500 tonnes per year, alongside cost savings for BMTC, as per Switch.
“Passengers on our vehicles can travel in the comfort of knowing that their journey will emit no CO2 to impact the planet.” Dr. Andy Palmer, CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of Switch Mobility Ltd stated.
At present, the BMTC has 90 mini electric buses which are run and maintained by JBM Auto Limited, a Gurugram based automobile manufacturing company.
“The electric buses are very sensitive compared to the regular BMTC buses. They do not move an inch if the doors are not shut properly or if all the settings are not right,” said a BMTC driver who has been appointed as a supervisor for one of the buses.
He added that the buses would fetch less revenue as the regular BMTC buses would have 42 seats, which is nine seats more than the mini electric bus. “But, one hour’s charge is enough for the bus to run 130 kilometres,” he said speaking about its energy efficiency. Meanwhile, BMTC will have to pay Rs 51 per kilometer to the company.
“It’s been a month since these buses have been operating and I’m not certain when we will be driving them,” the driver said. At present, a staff member from JBM runs the bus. As per a report by Bangalore Mirror, the JBM will take the full responsibility of operations and maintenance (O&M) besides supplying the buses according to the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) Model.
At present, 50 of the 90 JBM buses are employed at the Khelo India University Games (the largest university-level sports competition in the country that will end on May 3) in the city.
While the JBM fleet is meant to be metro feeder buses (with routes connecting to Metro stations) in Kengeri, Yeshwantpura and KR Pura, the Switch buses are expected to run independently in routes including Attibele and Yelahanka.
A BMTC driver said that buses are restricted to only certain routes because not all depots have charging stations.