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Monday, October 17, 2016

Ashok Leyland launches first India-made electric bus

 Ashok Leyland’s electric bus Circuit priced between ₹1.5 crore and
₹3.5 crore unveiled in Chennai on Monday

After electric cars it is the turn of bigger vehicles coming in full electric format for mass transportation. 

 Ambuj Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Tamil Nadu, flanked by Vinod K Dasari, MD, Ashok Leyland (right) and T Venkataraman, Senior Vice-President, at the launch of ‘Circuit’, Ashok Leyland’s first locally designed electric bus, in Chennai on Monday - Photo: BIJOY GHOSH

The Hinduja flagship Ashok Leyland has launched its first locally designed, engineered and produced battery electric bus series Circuit.

The company has developed the circuit series electric bus, a zero-emission product, with some technology inputs sourced from its UK subsidiary Optare, which is a pioneer of electric buses. 

“Depending on the configuration and battery sizes, we can extend up to 300 km. These buses can cost anywhere between ₹1.5 crore and ₹3.5 crore depending on the number of seats and battery sizes,” Vinod K Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland said, while unveiling the bus 

Battery for these buses will be imported from US and is expected to last five to seven years. The local content in the bus is about 30-40 %

It will have a seating capacity for 31 passengers though it will be available in multiple configurations based on customers’ requirements. 

It comes with several benefits such as zero emission, longer life cycle, lower maintenance costs and higher residual value when compared with conventional diesel buses, the high initial cost is one of the major barriers. 

The company is working on getting subsidy support under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles), programme of the Centre to make it attractive for the buyers, according to T Venkataraman, Senior Vice- President - Global Bus, Ashok Leyland

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