Tata Motors Starts Electric Bus Pilot-Runs In Guwahati

Tata Motors began a pilot-run of its 9-meter electric bus in Assam, claiming that it become the first automaker to get ARAI and homologation certifications for its 9-m and 12-m electric buses. The company, which bagged a 350 units order from the EESL to supply e-vehicles earlier this month, today signed an agreement with the Assam State Transport Corporation to run 9m e-buses that can carry 26-34 passengers. The trial-run will last for seven days.

Also Read: Tata Motors' EESL Order To Accelerate Full Range Electric Vehicle Programme

The company has already completed trials for this bus in Shimla and Chandigarh where these buses ran for 165 km and 143 km on a single charge, respectively.

Tata Motors is banking on the order to supply electric cars to the government to accelerate its programme to offer full range of electric vehicles in the Indian market, according to company's CEO and MD Guenter Butschek. Last month state-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) had announced that Tata Motors had bagged orders to supply 10,000 EVs in two phases but later stated that Mahindra and Mahindra has matched the rival's lowest bid price.

EESL said all 10,000 e-cars would be procured in two phases with 500 to be procured in phase-I and 9,500 vehicles to be ordered post phase-I deliveries.

Also Read: EESL To Procure 10,000 Electric Vehicles From Tata Motors

"It will help us accelerate our efforts to offer full range of electric vehicles to the Indian consumers," Butschek told PTI when asked how the order would change the company's EV programme.

He further said, "It has provided us an opportunity to leapfrog in boosting our presence in the e-mobility space."

Tata Motors started its EV journey over three years ago, when in May 2014, UK-based Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC) revealed a Manza REEV (range extended electric vehicle) demonstrator vehicle.