Switch Mobility, the UK subsidiary of the leading Indian commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland, revealed its double-decker electric bus on Thursday, the first ever in the country.
According to The Hindu, Switch EiV 22 is a 66-seater electric double-decker AC bus that is set to replace Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport’s (BEST) traditional non-electric double-decker buses, adhering to its plan to make commuting green by 2028.
The electric bus’ double-decker has a lightweight aluminium body construction, offering a passenger-to-weight ratio and a competitive cost per km for Mumbai, the only one in the country to have two-deck buses.
Furthermore, Switch EiV 22 is believed to be capable of ferrying almost twice the number of seated passengers compared to a single-decker bus with just a kerb weight increase of 18%.
Switch Mobility claimed that Switch EiV 22 has the “latest technology, ultra-modern design, highest safety, and best-in-class comfort features.” It is designed and manufactured in India with the help of Switch’s global electric bus experience to cater to the secured order of 200 electric double-decker buses in Mumbai.
To be specific, Switch EiV 22 is powered by a 231 kWh capacity, 2-string, liquid-cooled, higher density NMC chemistry battery pack with a dual gun charging system, producing a range of up to 250 km for intra-city applications.
“It’s an extremely proud moment for us as we bring back the iconic double-decker to India. Ashok Leyland was a pioneer among Indian manufacturers when it first launched the double-decker in 1967 in Mumbai and Switch is carrying forward that legacy.” Dheeraj Hinduja, Switch Mobility chairman, stated.
“With our strong expertise in double deckers, both in India and UK and with over 100 Switch electric double-deckers in service on UK roads, we are happy to not only bring back this icon to life, but also reinforces our commitment to create this form factor for India and the globe.” Hinduja added.
On the other hand, Mahesh Babu, CEO of Switch Mobility India, COO – Switch Mobility Ltd., said, “The Switch EiV 22 is designed and developed to meet Indian conditions, while at the same time provide superior customer comfort and delight,” and added:
“Mumbai and double deckers are synonymous with public transport, and we are certain that Switch EiV 22 will not only bring back fond memories for Mumbaikars, but will transform the public transport space in terms of sustainability and footprint which is the need of the hour in India.”
With these recent developments, it is clear that Switch Mobility plans to dominate India’s electric double-decker market by supplying such buses across its cities.
