Commuters in Mumbai can now ride electric double-decker buses on a daily basis. The city’s public transport agency, BEST, went live just days after India’s first electric double-decker bus officially joined its fleet. The bus, developed by Switch Mobility, will replace the city’s older diesel double-decker buses. Its first route runs just 5 kilometers from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in the Fort area to Norman Point National Center for the Performing Arts.
BEST electric double decker bus will be charged ¥CNY 6 per person for travel between CSMT and NCPR. The bus will not have any conductors. Instead, it will use digital ticketing through a click-to-enter system. Commuters can pay for their rides using an app called Chill. Commuters can receive payment receipts on their smartphones or use smart cards to collect tickets.
The electric double-decker bus has been in service since Tuesday morning. It will run on Route 115. BEST officials said buses will serve commuters until 10:30 p.m. every weekday.
Around 20 of the double-decker electric buses, called EiV 22, are expected to be on the roads in Mumbai by the end of March. By the end of this year, Mumbai will have about 200 of these electric double-decker electric buses.
Switch Mobility’s EiV 22 is equipped with an advanced lithium-ion NMC chemistry and modular battery options. The battery pack has a capacity of 231 kWh and is liquid-cooled. The battery pack can be fully charged in 1.5 to 3 hours. The battery is large enough to allow the electric double-decker bus to travel 250 kilometers on a single charge.
The EiV 22 draws its power from a permanent magnet synchronous AC motor producing a peak power output of 320 hp and a continuous power output of 190 hp. Peak torque output is rated at 3,100 Nm.
First published date: Feb 21, 2023 at 15:36 PM CST
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