Indian utility vehicle major Tata Motors will be supplying a total of electric buses to the West Bengal Transport Corporation. In the first phase, Tata Motors has already supplied 20 Ultra Electric 9/9m AC E-buses while the second batch of 20 9/9m AC E-buses will be delivered by March 31, 2019. The remaining 40 9/12m AC electric buses will be supplied to WBTC in a phased manner. These electric buses are being manufactured at the company's Dharwar plant. Tata Motors claims that their electric buses will have a driving range of 150km in one single charge. They have also installed charging stations at Nonapukur, Kasba, Newtown and Belghoria. Additionally, fast charging enables stations will be positioned at Howrah and Santragachi.

Tata Motors 9m electric bus flagged off from Kolkata

Tata Motors electric buses make use of Li-ion batteries that been positioned on the roof to prevent breakdown due to waterlogging. Tata Motors also mentions the batteries are liquid cooled to maintain the temperature within an optimum range and ensure longer life along with better performance in tropical conditions. Powering the Ultra electric buses is an integrated electric motor generator that is used on the Starbus and Ultra platforms. This powertrain produces a maximum output of 245Kw (333PS) with continuous power of 145Kw (197PS). Tata claims that these buses offer 50 per cent lower fuel costs, 20 per cent better energy consumption and lower maintenance downtime as compared to diesel buses. These buses can occupy 31 passengers, come equipped with air-conditioner and also feature air suspension for both front and rear axles. The buses have been tested and validated by Tata Motors across states including Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Assam and Maharashtra. The company has tenders to supply 255 electric buses to six public transport undertakings including WBTC (West Bengal), LCTSL (Lucknow), AICTSL (Indore), ASTC (Guwahati), J&KSRTC (Jammu) and JCTSL (Jaipur).

Honourable CM Smt. Mamta Banerjee flags off the 1st Electric Bus by Tata Motors in Kolkata

Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Srivastava, product line head, Passenger Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, said, "With growing environmental concerns, electric bus is definitely a symbol of future mobility. Tata Motors has always been at the forefront of the E-mobility evolution and this order is a testament of our best-in-class solution tailored for the bus segment in India. The order is part of the 255 e-buses to be supplied to six STUs in the country, of which WBTC is one. Our in-depth understanding of sustainable public transport for different markets and customers is what differentiates us from our competitors. We are determined to develop alternate fuel technologies and create more energy efficient vehicles thereby supporting the government's efforts towards promoting electric vehicles in the country."

Tata Motors 9m electric bus flagged off from Kolkata