Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’s new electric bus fleet on 1 November, a day before the buses entered service. Evey Trans Private Limited, also a subsidiary of MEIL, operates the fleet. The company specialises in operating electric buses under Gross Cost Contracts (GCC) from state transport undertakings, and also handles their maintenance and installs charging stations.
All 35 electric buses are Olectra’s iX model, which measures 9.3 metres in length, 2.5 metres in width, and 3.3 metres in height and has a 4.6-metre wheelbase. The medium-sized electric bus has a monocoque construction and features two passenger doors, including one ahead of the front axle and the other between the axles, and accommodates 32 passengers.
Olectra offers the iX in city bus, staff bus, and school bus versions, and the city bus version used in this deployment accommodates 32 passengers. The company uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 260 kW of peak power and 750 Nm of peak torque in this model, along with a 191 kWh LFP battery pack.
The iX fleet Olectra has deployed in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar features air suspension at both ends, air curtains at both passenger doors, USB charging ports, and digital destination displays with an integrated passenger announcement system. These buses also have CCTV cameras and a vehicle tracking system.
Electric buses are Olectra’s mainstay, but the company also offers an electric tipper. The company says it has deployed over 4,500 EVs across more than 55 cities, and these vehicles have collectively covered more than 750 million kilometres. Its order book currently stands at over 7,900 EVs. Commenting on the recent fleet deployment in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mahesha Babu, the company’s Managing Director, said, “India is making remarkable progress in its transition towards cleaner and more sustainable public transportation. The introduction of 35 Olectra electric buses in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is another important step in making clean, reliable, and efficient mobility a reality for more people.”
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