Ashok Leyland Ltd unveiled the country’s first such indigenously made vehicle, its Circuit series electric bus.
It will be designed and engineered in India and will be in line with the company’s aim for the future of mass mobility, it said in a statement.
T. Venkataraman, senior vice-president for the global bus platform at the firm, “We believe electric vehicles will happen sooner than later,” also added that Ashok Leyland wanted to be the first to unveil a production model, while people have been talking about electric vehicles.
The bus is specifically developed for Indian road conditions, zero-emission vehicle will be offered on the multiple platforms and is enjoying a subsidy under the government’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.
The bus can travel 150 km on a single charge taking care of the so-called ‘range anxiety’, said Venkataraman.
The subsidy is governed by the length of the bus, charging speed, among other factors. Also, Ashok Leyland is the first bus maker to leverage the government subsidy.
Ashok Leyland expects 50 electric buses sale in the current fiscal and around 200 units next year. Of the INR 500 crore capital expenditure lined up for the bus business, the Chennai-based company plans to spend 10% on electric buses.
Ashok Leyland Launched Country’s First Electric Bus
