Tata Motors confirms biggest e-bus contract in India

Indian bus brand, Tata Motors, has been awarded a contract for 300 e-buses by the Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL).

This comes after already having delivered more than 200 e-buses with over 60 per cent market share under the central government’s FAME I scheme.  

The mandate to Tata Motors is India’s largest to date and is said to support the government’s recent e-mobility drive. The company will supply Urban 9/9 Electric buses which will run in Ahmedabad’s bus rapid transit system (BRTS) corridor.

The Ahmedabad’s BRTS corridor has expanded since its opening in 2009 to approximately 55 miles, with a daily ridership of around 400,000 passengers.

The e-buses will be deployed under the OPEX model and Tata Motors will be setting up the required infrastructure, including fast-charging stations and support systems. The company has imported electrical traction components from suppliers in the U.S., Germany and China.

Manufactured at Tata Motors’ Dharwad plant, the buses will have a travelling range of just under 100 miles on a single charge. Their Li-ion batteries have been placed on the roof to prevent water logging and they are liquid-cooled to maintain an optimum temperature which will ensure a longer life. 

The buses are said to have 50 per cent lower fuel costs, 20 per cent better energy consumption and lower maintenance downtime as compared to diesel buses. 

Mr. Girish Wagh, President, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, said: “We are delighted to have won the largest tender of e-buses in the country. Tata Motors has been playing a proactive role in the electrification drive, with the development of electric traction system for Hybrid as well as Pure Electric vehicles. We will continue to support the government in their commitment towards creating a sustainable future for India.”

The buses have been tested and validated by Tata Motors across states including Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Assam and Maharashtra to establish performance in diverse terrains.