I-Day gift from BMTC: 75 non-AC e-buses to hit Bengaluru roads by Aug 15

BENGALURU: To commemorate the 75th year of Indian Independence, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will roll out 75 non-AC electric buses by August 15. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai was supposed to launch the buses on Monday, but it has been postponed after he tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday.
"We are planning to launch the buses by August 15. But his date for the function is not finalised," said an official.

Officials said 12-metre non-AC e-buses from Switch Mobility Ltd, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, will mainly be deployed on long-distance routes. The plan is to run these e-buses from Yelahanka depot in the first phase. BMTC identified routes such as 290E Shivajinagar-Yelahanka, 401K Yelahanka-Kengeri, 402B/402D Kempegowda Bus Station -Yelahanka Satellite Town from Yelahanka depot to operate these e-buses.
"The charging station at Yelahanka is already ready. Charging infrastructure work in the other two depots, Bidadi and Attibele, is in progress," said a BMTC official.
In September 2021, Switch Mobility emerged as the lowest bidder for the 300 e-bus tender under FAME II scheme, after it quoted Rs 48.9 per km. The remaining will be inducted by October. These e-buses will be a major relief for BMTC which is struggling due to soaring diesel prices and staff shortage. Switch Mobility will also provide drivers and take care of charging infrastructure and maintenance of buses. BMTC needs to deploy only conductors.
The 41-seater (including driver) buses will run 150km on single charge. The buses will run another 75km after opportunity charging (charging the battery for a short time whenever convenient) for 45 minutes. This means each bus could cover 225km. Opportunity charging stations for 300 e-buses will be set up in depots at KBS, Kengeri, Yeshwanthpur, and Central Silk Board bus station.
'Induct low-floor buses'
Many passengers have urged BMTC to induct low-floor electric buses which are suitable for the differently abled and senior citizens. "These 12m non-AC Switch Mobility e-buses have 900mm floor height. Each of them will have a wheel-chair lifting facility. There are only a few manufacturers in the low-floor non-AC bus segment," said an official.
According to passengers, the wheelchair-lifting facility is not ideal for Indian road conditions. "Most buses don't halt at designated sheltered bus stops. We need more low floor non-AC buses instead. Low-floor buses are more accessible for people with disabilities, children and the elderly. BBMP should also ensure that bus stops should be at the same level as the bus door to help people in wheelchairs. At present, we don't even have proper footpaths where wheelchairs/prams could move smoothly. In fact, a wheelchair-lifting facility will require at least five minute for a person to get inside the bus. It's difficult, especially during peak-hour traffic," said Lakshmi Gopal, a BMTC user.