Eicher Launches First-Ever Skyline Pro Electric Buses In India

We exclusively told you about Eicher Trucks & Buses, part of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), entering the electric bus segment soon and the commercial vehicle maker has now introduced its first ever electric bus in the country. The company's electric buses have been developed in collaboration with KPIT Technologies and will integrate the latter's indigenously developed Revolo tech. The new electrified buses are based on Eicher's Skyline Pro platform. Eicher is the latest manufacturer to join this young segment that has limited players including China's BYD.

Also Read: Eicher Motors Planning To Launch Intra-City Electric Bus In India

Commenting on the new offerings, Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles said, "The country is at the cusp of a new revolution in transportation, and it is our endeavor to provide India with the best mobility solutions. Together with KPIT Technologies Ltd., we bring our core competencies of a strong bus platform and indigenous technology to build the right products for the market. This further reinforces commitment to usher in modernization in the CV industry. The Smart Electric Skyline Pro E buses are certified to ply on Indian roads and we are confident they will bring great value to commuters, city transportation corporations and other organisations in this ecosystem. Our pan India network of dealerships and service stations will provide all the necessary service support and maintenance for operating these electric buses efficiently"

He further said, "The shift to electric vehicle technology is opening up a number of opportunities for the economy. It is a viable solution to India's depleting air quality and increasing dependencies on traditional fuel resources. Along with the supporting policy framework, it will bring in positive implications across environment, social and economic parameters."

Kishor Patil, MD, CEO and Co- founder, KPIT Technologies Ltd. said, "We are very happy to partner with Eicher Trucks & Buses, the leading bus manufacturer in India. This partnership reinforces KPIT's commitment to create sustainable technologies that have a positive impact on our environment. Using our home-grown technology, this electric bus segment will usher in a new era of clean urban mobility.

The new Eicher Skyline Pro electric buses will be manufactured at VECV's facility at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and the company says they are the most advanced in safety, comfort and efficiency. The buses use Revolo technology, which has been described as a unique architecture that allows to operate on a lower voltage. The technology nalso helps in significant regeneration to expand the range as much as possible with the smallest battery. The system is versatile and designed for Indian conditions.

The Eicher Skyline Pro electric buses are 9-metres in length and are completely air conditioned. The e-buses promise a range of 177 km on a single charge with AC with 36 per cent regeneration. As a result, Eicher says the buses consume less than 0.8 electricity units/km. The Eicher Skyline Pro electric buses also meet the highest safety standards including nail penetration tests for batteries. Lastly, the buses get a top-up charger for enroute charging.