Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Nov 24: Electric buses which are 12 metres long and which can accommodate 42 passengers, equipped with the ability to cover 150 to 200 km will soon become part of the transit system in the city if the current plans of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) materialize. BMTC has been preparing to introduce these buses soon to the city transport.
These environment-friendly buses, manufactured with the joint participation of Tata Motors and Marco Polo, have been put up for exhibition at the International Exhibition Centre here.At the same time, information about these buses is also being imparted at the Investors Summit organized by the department of industries here.
These buses are currently being made in two sizes, nine metres and 12 metres long. In the 12-metre bus, 42 passengers can sit and 30 can travel in standing position. The batteries fitted to these buses can last seven to eight years. The batteries need to be charged for six hours continuously for the bus to be able to cover 150 to 200 km. There is also the option of choosing fast charging system under which batteries can be fully charged in two hours. These buses can travel at a speed of up to 75 km per hour, and their designs have been modified to suit intra city travel.
Most of the features the Volvo buses currently operated by BMTC in the city have been retained in these buses. They are equipped with power steering, front leveller suspension, air suspension systems etc.
BMTC has set into motion the tender process for purchase of electric buses. The central government will provide subsidy of Rs 85 lac for each of these buses procured by BMTC. Tata Motors has already shown the functioning of these buses to BMTC. Prices of these buses have been fixed at Rs 1.8 crore for 12-metre bus and 1.5 crore for nine-metre bus. These buses are manufactured in Tata Motors facilities at Dharwad and Lucknow. Experimentally these buses are already running at several places like Mumbai, New Delhi and Himachal Pradesh in participation with the government. Organizers of the bus exhibition here said that here too discussions are on over the practicability of serving the people with these buses in participation with the government.
Electric auto rickshaw
Transvahan Techologies has introduced electric auto rikshaw at the investors summit. These rickshaws are qeupped with 1 HP motor. Once the battery is charged for five to six hours, they can move 95-100 kilometres at a speed of 25 km per hour. It can be charged in normal plugs found at homes at a cost of Rs 18. These auto rickshaws cost Rs 1.25 lac.