Tata Motors Ltd is looking at electric buses as the future growth driver in the public transport space.

Over the next two years, at least 5000-7000 e-buses are expected to ply (across different vehicle makers) in India. So the company intends to strengthen its presence not just through a better product range, but is also exploring different business models.

According to Rohit Srivastava, Product Line Head, Passenger Commercial Vehicles, Apart from supply to State governments, Tata Motors is also exploring the possibility of fleet replacement at big corporate houses. So the company will look at replacing a conventional fuel run bus of corporate with an electric bus. Talks have been initiated with some four to five such large entities.

“Detailed discussions are on. We are open to offering our electric buses to these big corporate houses that provide staff transportation facilities. But, things like replacement cycle (of existing vehicle with a new one) has to coincide,” Srivastava told BusinessLine.

Tata Motors is open to discussions with private fleet operators. But, as of now, not many have expressed interest. Things like charging of the vehicle during long trips and availability of charging stations are still being worked out, market sources said.

Buses are being manufactured at Dharwad in Karnataka and around 125 vehicles can be made on a monthly basis at the facility.

“Production capacities are flexible and can be doubled to 250-300 vehicles per month depending on demand,” Srivastava said.

Typically, an electric bus of Tata Motors can run 150 kms with a single charge. There will be options to ‘top-up the vehicle’s battery’ in charging points across specific depots. For the State government projects, that the company is undertaking, charging points would be in depots itself.

State government projects

The company has bagged orders to supply 255 e-buses from six state transport undertakings under the first phase of incentive scheme for electric vehicles in public transport.

Under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles scheme, announced by the Centre, Tata Motors won 60 per cent of the orders.

The company will supply 80 buses to Kolkata, (to West Bengal Transport Authority) 40 buses each to Jammu, Indore, Lucknow and Jaipur, and 15 buses to Guwahati.

As of now, 20 buses have been supplied to Kolkata and the remaining 60-odd will be supplied soon. This apart a pilot run is being carried out in Lucknow and Indore.

“Pilot-run in other cities will also start soon. The nature of the contract mandates that a trial run be carried out before the electric vehicles start plying,” Srivastava said.

Apart from Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Volvo and some other OEMs have electric buses.

 

 

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