Ashok Leyland's EV Arm Switch Bags Order To Supply And Operate 300 Electric Buses In Bengaluru For BMTC Under Centre's FAME-II Scheme

Switch Mobility, the electric vehicle arm of Ashok Leyland, has secured an order to supply and operate 300, 12-metre electric buses for Bengaluru's public transport agency BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation).

The fleet and charging infrastructure will be supplied, operated and maintained by Switch Mobility for a period of 12-years on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) Model under the union government's Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric & Hybrid Vehicles FAME-II scheme.

Under the FAME-II scheme ,the union government has sanctioned subsidies for 5595 e-buses across 64 cities. The scheme aims at pushing clean mobility in public transport and helping State Government Entities/ State transport undertakings adopt EV for intra-city and inter-city bus operations.

“Switch is proud to serve the city of Bengaluru with a new fleet of technologically advanced electric buses. All Switch vehicles are zero-emission, but we set the bar much higher, aiming for net zero carbon across all of our operations.” said Dr. Andy Palmer, CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of Switch Mobility Ltd.

“Through the deployment of 300 of our zero tail-pipe emission electric buses, Switch will play a central role in reducing carbon in the city of Bengaluru. The cost of ownership and the product experience that we can deliver is amongst the best in the sector,” said Mahesh Babu, COO of Switch Mobility & CEO of Switch Mobility, India.

The electric buses of Ashok Leyland are expected to reduce fuel consumption by around 5.5 million litres annually, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions by more than 14,500 tonnes per year alongside cost savings for BMTC.

The Chennai-based trucks and bus manufacturer has recently hived off its electric vehicle division to better tap growth opportunities through onboarding of partners.

Switch buses are already on the roads in London. The company also plans to start production of an electric van around 2024, joining a growing field of companies racing to bring zero-emission last-mile delivery vehicles to market.