The Delhi government may have to conduct its scheduled trial of electric buses with just two instead of three such vehicles putting it in a tighter spot in relation to zeroing in on the best model of such vehicles suited to form the foundation of a fleet of 1,000-strong fleet for the Capital, government sources have said.
While a Chinese firm was expected to provide its e-bus model by early October and an NCR-based private operator expected to do the same sooner, the third vendor approached to provide its vehicle for the trial is non-committal on the topic, sources in the government also said.
This, even as three separate bus depots had been earmarked to provide charging facilities for each of the vehicles to be procured for the scheduled trial.
The three separate e-bus models are supposed to allow the government to objectively assess the functionality and infrastructure-related requirements of vehicles of different varieties in relation to the transportation needs of Delhi, the government sources also said.
Sources from the Transport Department, however, sought to clarify that more vendors could be approached to replace those who chose not to be a part of the scheduled trial, which would commence in mid or late-October.
“The Central government has organised a convention early next month where vendors of such vehicles will be in attendance,” said a source.
‘No deadline’
“Since this is a pilot project, there is neither a deadline on the procurement of such vehicles, nor a cap on the number of vehicles that can be procured for the trial,” the source added.