Transport Dept to float EOI for electric buses

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 28

Even as a lot of issues concerning the efficacy of electric buses in the hilly terrain remain unaddressed, the Transport Department has decided to float expression of interest (EOI) for the purchase of 50 eco-friendly vehicles. A trial run of the buses was done by Mahindra and Mahindra.

The department is preparing the specifications of the vehicles as per their requirement, but no company has started manufacturing these in India so far.

Even Mahindra and Mahindra is importing these battery-operated vans from England and has not launched the vehicle. However, it is in pursuance of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders to explore the possibility of running eco-friendly buses between Manali and Rohtang that the state government has undertaken the trial run of both battery-operated electric and CNG buses.

“Even though the trial run of the e-maxximo, seven-seater mini vans being imported by Mahindra and Mahindra was undertaken, still there are a lot of issues which remain to be addressed,” said Ajay Mittal, Additional Chief Secretary, Transport. He said after the specifications were decided, the EOI would be floated within a week’s time.

It was in December last year that the trial run of the electric van was undertaken between Parwanoo, Solan and Shimla. “Though the performance of the vehicles was satisfactory on levelled roads, on gradual slopes, the battery consumption was fast and on steep slopes like the Kasumpti-Chhota Shimla route, a problem was faced, especially during the peak traffic time,” said officials.

The Union Ministry of Heavy Industries has agreed to finance the purchase of electric buses and Himachal is keen to acquire 25 CNG buses and 50 electric buses.

The technical team, both from the company as well as the Transport Department, analysed the entire trial run and the issues which emerged on various aspects. Now, it remains to be seen the kind of response the department will receive to the EOI to be floated shortly.

The NGT has banned diesel and petrol vehicles between Manali and Rohtang. The NGT has directed the state government to explore the possibility of running eco-friendly CNG and electric buses. However, no automobile company has so far guaranteed the safety and suitability of these eco-friendly vehicles to save the area from environmental degradation.

The issue of setting up of charging stations will be another task before the state government as a fully charged battery will be able to cover only a distance of about 110 km. While the time to fully charge a battery is about eight to nine hours, experts have suggested that the effectiveness of a fully charged battery is reduced by almost 40 per cent in very cold climes and steep incline.