To be deployed on Nilackal-Pampa route

Opening a new chapter in the transportation sector of the State, the State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Thursday launched 10 zero-emission and noiseless air-conditioned battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in its first step towards Green Mobility.

The environment-friendly 32 seater Olectra-BYD’s electric bus, manufactured under Make in India and wet leased by the KSRTC for 10 years, was flagged off by Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran at the KSRTC bus terminal at Thampanoor here.

Kerala is the first among the southern States to roll out electric buses.

The buses will be deployed to ferry Ayyappa devotees in the Nilackal-Pampa-Nilackal corridor when the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season commences in Sabarimala on Saturday.

eBuzz K9 model, made available with driver to the KSRTC, has been successfully plying for over one year on the high-altitude Kullu-Manali-Rohtang Pass route in Himachal Pradesh, proving its durability to run in all kinds of terrains.

The nine-metre low-floor buses were manufactured in a plant near Hyderabad by Olectra Greentech (formerly Goldstone Infratech) in a strategic tie-up with BYD Auto Industry Co Ltd – world’s largest electric vehicle company.

Mumbai-based Maha Voyage LLP bagged the tender floated by the KSRTC from among three bidders by quoting the lowest of ₹ 43.20 per km. The KSRTC will get a net balance of ₹6,540 per bus daily after electricity cost and wet lease amount.

LNG, CNG vehicles

Speaking at the function, Mr. Saseendran said the government was for the entry of vehicles powered by LNG and CNG onto the roads in the days ahead and had recently unveiled its “Policy on Electric Mobility”.

The KSRTC is going green as part of the policy in a phased manner and the 10 BEVs rolled out now are part of the scheme.

Mr. Saseendran said the government will give permit only to e-autos in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode and a subsidy of ₹30,000 will be given to those who opt for them.