Vinod K Dasari, managing director, Ashok Leyland, said that the Circuit-S, India's first swap-battery bus, is designed for seating capacity ranging from 25-35 seats. It works on the pay-per-use model of battery consumption.
Ashok Leyland, which controls around 38% market share in the bus segment, plans to commercially roll out battery-swappable buses in next three-six months.
The company officials said that the swappable batteries are much lighter in weight in comparison to conventional batteries and can be swapped within five minutes, thereby equaling the average time taken to refuel diesel in a city bus.
Hence, it addresses issues of convenience and quick recharging options that have long been stumbling blocks for acceptance and viability of electric vehicles (EVs) for public transportation, the company added.
Talking at the AutoExpo2018 event which is being held in Greater Noida, Vinod K Dasari, managing director, Ashok Leyland, said that the Circuit-S, India's first swap-battery bus, is designed for seating capacity ranging from 25-35 seats. It works on the pay-per-use model of battery consumption.
"We certainly see this technology solution as biggest enabler for our State Transport Undertakings (STU) and the biggest contributor to our nation's mobility vision of becoming 100% electric." Dasari further added that some of the STUs are planning to come up with tenders for the EV buses and his company is ready to participate in all such bids.
The company claims that they are targeting smart cities, private companies, and even schools for the sales of these buses. The company has plans to invest around Rs 100 crore in the electric vehicle project over the next few years.
The swappable battery is designed in collaboration with Chetan Maini-led SUN Mobility. Maini had founded electric car firm Reva, which was later acquired by Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).
According to a study done by Ashok Leyland along with its partner SUN Mobility, around 85% of the time, the average distance travel by a city bus is between 25-30 kilometre per trip. Hence, there is no need for heavy and large-size batteries which can be swapped quickly at intervals. These buses are designed for travelling up to 50 km per swapping.
According to industry experts, the concept of swappable batteries ran into a controversy after it was criticised by Union minister Nitin Gadkari in November last year.
"The swapping (battery) policy I feel is not appropriate for the country because it is very difficult thing…. That is not going to be possible in the country," Gadkari had reportedly said.
Central government-backed think tank Niti Aayog in its report released in May last year had suggested that for accelerated adoption of electric vehicles, smart and swappable batteries with lease and/or pay-per-use business models are needed.
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