New Delhi: The plan of Mumbai’s BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) to introduce fully air-conditioned electric double decker buses is stuck on the electronic stability control (ESC) requirement made mandatory on buses from April 1 this year.
Switch Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, the leading Indian truck manufacturer, and the British bus manufacturer Optare, was to supply 200 electric double decker buses to BEST.
Mahesh Babu, CEO, Switch Mobility, told ETAuto, that the revised cost of buses with ESC are yet to be finalised as this technology is not yet developed for double decker buses. Switch mobility is the first one to develop it in India.
Mahesh Babu said due to substantial investment in testing, validation and increase in the price of parts for the mandated ESC, there was substantial hike in the e-double decker bus prices. In addition to this, BEST would demand for warranty and after sales service for 12 years. This also would change the pricing factor.
“As per the tender, if there is any change in regulation, change in law or anything, then we are eligible to ask for a higher price,” he said.
“So we have given a letter to BEST. If BEST agrees for a higher price, we’ll be happy to supply them,” Mahesh Babu said.
Electronic stability control programme is initiated to support the drivers in critical driving scenarios. It demands an antilock braking system, traction control system and other things depending on the vehicle to provide safety. It constantly evaluates the driver’s behaviour through its sensors and if anything abnormal is detected ESC automatically takes over the control and stabilizes the vehicle and prevents any mishap.
When ETAuto asked about the growth of Switch Mobility, Mahesh Babu said he and his company are happy with the growth. “We started off with a 3% market share in FY 22, and we had close to 20% market share in the e-bus segment in FY 23,” he said.
Switch Mobility has launched innovative products in the market like the first electric double decker bus (with AC), thus improving consumer experience and also changing the perception on public transport in India.
Switch Mobility would be delivering 50 buses in Mumbai, and one in Tirupati. Earlier it had delivered 5 buses in Hyderabad. He said orders for the company are from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Switch Mobility is aiming for more than 3,000 buses by the end of the year, and the market is growing as per the tenders by STUs and CESL, which are supported by MHAI, and others, he said.
Switch Mobility is a key player in the private sector for which it is supplying single and double decker buses. “The Market of e-bus with the new PME bus Seva scheme is going to take off. JSW Steel Vijaynagar employee transport is done by our electric buses. We have tied up with Cello. We have 20 luxury buses running in Mumbai. We have just signed a contract to supply 80 buses to Indore transport along with Cello.”
Electric buses are promoting sustainable transportations inside the cities, acting as a substitute for cars for commuters.
Talking about the Switch Mobility’s revised investment plans by leveraging the existing facilities of Ashok Leyland, Mahesh Babu said Switch Mobility is efficiently using the gains of the parent companies like Ashok Leyland and the Hinduja Group.
