India's first electric double-decker AC bus Switch EiV22 unveiled for Mumbai's BEST

Mumbai is the only city in India which has twin-deck buses in operations and Switch Mobility will provide 66-seater buses to Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) for public transport.

Image: Twitter

Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) has got its first all-electric double decker AC bus from Switch Mobility, the electric vehicle division of Hinduja Group's flagship Ashok Leyland. The company unveiled its double-decker 66-seater electric bus in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. Mumbai is the only city in the country which has twin-deck buses in operation and Ashok Leyland rolled out these buses way back in 1967. Now 55 years later, Ashok Leyland is offering an electric double decker bus to Mumbai. Switch already has its electric double-decker buses in the United Kingdom with more than 100 buses in service on the UK roads.

"Ashok Leyland was a pioneer among Indian manufacturers when it first launched the double-decker in 1967 in Mumbai and Switch is carrying forward that legacy. With our strong expertise in double-deckers, both in India and UK and with over 100 Switch electric double-deckers in service on UK roads, we reinforce our commitment to create this form factor (design) for India and the globe," said Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Switch Mobility.

Ushering Sustainable Revolution!

It gives me immense pleasure to launch the Ashok Leyland's Electric Double Decker Bus in Mumbai today. pic.twitter.com/lTP4Jhosb0 — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 18, 2022

The electric double-decker AC bus EiV22 is powered by a 231 kWh capacity battery pack with dual gun charging system, which allows the bus to have a range up to 250 kilometres for intra-city transport, according to the company. "The Switch EiV 22 is designed and developed to meet Indian conditions. Mumbai and double-deckers are synonymous with public transport, and we are certain that EiV 22 will transform the public transport space in terms of sustainability and footprint," said Babu.

Electric Buses for BEST

Switch has secured the order for 200 buses from BEST, which it plans to deliver by next financial year in tranches and is open to "participate" if the autonomous body comes up with another tender, he said. "We already have an order for 200 electric double-decker AC buses from BEST. We will deliver 50 of these buses this financial year. Many more cities are discussing with us for these buses," he said, noting that the company expects to deliver 150-250 electric double decker AC buses next year.

Switch had in March announced its entry into continental Europe with a greenfield facility in Spain. For India, Babu said, the company is looking at a dedicated facility but not in the near future as it is using the multiple assets of the company.

"We are using these facilities to scale up. In parallel we are looking for a dedicated facility for Switch. It is not decided (by when). If we decide now, it 9th facility) will take two years to come up," he said. Babu, however, said that the company has a capacity to produce 2,500 buses, which it will be able to ramp up to 5,000 in a short span of six months.'

With PTI inputs