Noiseless, Environment-Friendly, Fully Air-Conditioned: ‘Make In India’ E-Buses To Hit Kerala Roads Next Month

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is planning to launch ten noiseless air-conditioned battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the Thiruvananthapuram- Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram route from 1 February, reports The Hindu.

The Olectra-BYD’s electric buses are made under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and wet-leased by the KSRTC for ten years.

The decision comes after these buses successfully completed chain service operations from 17 November, on the Nilackal-Pampa-Nilackal corridor, during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season of Sabarimala.

On the state capital-Kochi route, the buses would reportedly stop only at Attingal, Karunagapally, Kollam, Kayamkulam, Haripad and Alappuzha.

Reports suggest that the fares will be at par with those levied in the low-floor air-conditioned Volvo buses.

The BEV could attain the speed of 120 km per hour, however, the speed will be restricted to 80 km per hour.

During the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season, the BEVs operated 360 km daily on the Nilackal-Pampa corridor, and the KSRTC registered a profit of Rs 57 per kilometre, including the electricity cost, out of the fare collection of Rs 110 per kilometre.

Only 0.8 unit of electricity is needed for the BEV to run a kilometre. Compared to the operational cost of Rs 31 per kilometre for High-Speed Diesel (HSD)-powered buses, the BEVs operational cost is Rs 6.

The buses would run conductor-less and tickets will be available from the eight bus stations where the buses will halt.