Hinduja Group’s flagship company Ashok Leyland launched its first 100 per cent electric bus made in India – “Circuit“. The vehicle is a step towards India’s vision of National Electric Mobility Plan 2020 which plans to enhance use of electric buses in public transport in order to reduce vehicular pollution, traffic congestion of the urban and rural roads and provide clean and affordable transport services.
Ashok Leyland controls UK firm Optare, which specializes in alternate technology, especially in the manufacturing of electric bus es.
Facts about Circuit Series Bus:
The electric bus has been created specifically for Indian road and passenger conditions and has a seating capacity ranging from 35 to 65.- Circuit is zero-emission, non-polluting vehicle and can run up to 120 kilometers on a single recharge under standard test conditions.
- These buses are now being manufactured in Alwar, Rajasthan and Viralimalai facility in Tamil Nadu.
- The electric bus also has an integrated fire-detection and suppression system.
Background: The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020
Government of India launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 in 2013. It aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country.
Objective:
NEMMP has National Energy Security & growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities in full range of electric vehicle technologies as its two inter-related key objectives.
- It aims to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles year on year from 2020 onwards.
Associated Schemes:
NEMMP is a composite scheme using different policy-levers such as:
- Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles India (FAME India)·
- DST Technology Platform for Electric Mobility (TPEM)
FAME India Scheme
Union Government launched Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME India) under NEMMP 2020 to provide fiscal and monetary incentives to kick start this nascent technology. The scheme was launched in 2015 and envisages Rs 795 crore support in the first two fiscals starting with 2015.
The scheme provides monetary incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles ranging from two wheelers to buses.
DST Technology Platform for Electric Mobility (TPEM)
To strengthen and institutionalize the collaboration between Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) in R&D and technology development in Electric Mobility, the government has been decided to set up a Technology Platform for Electric Mobility.